Which term refers specifically to the ability to run multiple instances of applications without needing separate VMs?

The term that best refers to the ability to run multiple instances of applications without needing separate virtual machines (VMs) is containerization. Containerization allows developers to package applications along with their dependencies into containers, which share the same operating system kernel but run in isolated environments. This results in a lightweight and efficient way to deploy and manage applications, as containers can be started almost instantly and use far fewer resources compared to full VMs.

Virtualization, while related, typically involves creating multiple VMs that each run their own operating system, leading to higher resource use and longer startup times. Endpoint security refers to securing endpoint devices like laptops and smartphones—not related to running applications. A hypervisor is a software layer that enables virtualization by managing multiple VMs, but it does not specifically address running isolated application instances in the way that containerization does.