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An installation image, often referred to as an installation disk image or simply an image, is a file that contains the complete contents of an optical disc, such as a CD or DVD. This image file is a sector-by-sector copy of the original disc and can be used to recreate the disc or to install software or an operating system onto a computer.

Installation images are commonly used for distributing operating systems like Windows or Linux, as well as for software applications that are too large to be distributed through other means. They are typically created using disc imaging software and are often saved in formats like ISO (.iso).

The primary benefit of using an installation image is its ability to provide a complete, bootable copy of the original installation media. This allows users to install software or an operating system without needing the physical disc. Installation images can be burned back onto a blank CD or DVD, or they can be mounted as virtual drives on a computer. Mounting an image as a virtual drive allows the computer to treat the image file as if it were a physical disc, making it easy to access the contents and initiate the installation process.

In some cases, particularly with operating systems, an installation image can be used to create a bootable USB drive. This is a popular method for installing operating systems on modern computers that may not have optical disc drives. The process involves using specialized tools to copy the contents of the installation image onto a USB flash drive in a way that makes it bootable.