Which of the following best describes software emulation?

Software emulation refers to the ability of a system to imitate the functions of another system, allowing applications designed for one operating system to run on another. This means that when an application that is typically dependent on a specific operating system is run in an emulation environment, it can function as if it is operating on the original system.

In this context, it is crucial to understand how emulation serves as a bridge between different operating systems. This can involve translating system calls and adapting to the differences between architectures, which allows for versatility in software deployment across various platforms.

The other options describe functionalities or characteristics that do not accurately define software emulation. Running guest operating systems natively on hardware refers to virtualization rather than emulation, as virtualization runs directly on the physical hardware without the need to mimic other systems. While a hypervisor is crucial for managing virtualized environments, it is not fundamentally required for software emulation. Additionally, software emulation typically does not provide higher performance compared to virtualization since it involves translating and simulating instructions, which can add overhead and slow down execution.