What concept refers to the abstraction of running code from the underlying hardware in cloud environments?

The concept that refers to the abstraction of running code from the underlying hardware in cloud environments is best captured by compute virtualization. This term specifically describes the process of dividing physical hardware resources into multiple virtual machines, enabling multiple instances of operating systems and applications to run on a shared hardware platform.

Compute virtualization allows for effective resource utilization and provides flexibility, scalability, and cost savings, all essential features in cloud computing. It abstracts the hardware, allowing developers and users to focus on deploying and managing applications without needing detailed knowledge about the underlying physical infrastructure.

While other terms related to virtualization exist, such as virtualization in general, hardware abstraction, and hypervisor technology, they each have different emphases or applications within the virtualization ecosystem. For instance, virtualization is a broader term that encompasses various forms of abstraction, whereas hardware abstraction refers specifically to the method of presenting a simpler interface to the system's physical hardware. Hypervisor technology, on the other hand, refers to the software layer that enables the creation and management of virtual machines but does not represent the entire range of compute virtualization processes.