The term "hypervisor" in virtualization refers to software or firmware that enables multiple operating systems to run concurrently on a single hardware platform. Hypervisors manage the distribution of resources, such as CPU, memory, and storage, among virtual machines (VMs), ensuring isolation and efficient resource allocation. There are two types of hypervisors: Type 1, or bare-metal, run directly on the hardware, while Type 2 run on top of a host operating system. Hypervisors are essential for cloud computing, facilitating flexible and scalable infrastructure solutions while optimizing hardware utilization.