**What are VM instances?**\
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**VM instances** in Google Cloud Platform (GCP) refer to **virtual machines** that run on Google Compute Engine. These are customizable compute resources that provide users with the capability to run applications, deploy workloads, and manage services on Google's infrastructure. VM instances can be configured with different CPU, memory, and storage options, and can run various operating systems, including Linux and Windows. They are a key component of cloud infrastructure, offering scalable and flexible computing power.