parallels

Parallels is a term with multiple meanings across mathematics, technology, and culture. In mathematics, parallels refers to the property of lines or curves that never meet when extended in a plane. In technology, Parallels is a brand name used for virtualization software that enables running other operating systems on a host computer, notably Parallels Desktop for macOS, and related products for application delivery. In popular culture, Parallels is also the title of various films, television series, and video games that explore parallel universes or alternate realities.

In geometry, parallelism is defined for lines, rays, or line segments that lie in the same plane and are equidistant, never intersecting. The concept extends to curves and surfaces, but in Euclidean space the behavior is specific: parallel lines have the same direction, slopes are equal in a coordinate system, and the distance between them is constant. The parallel postulate is a classical axiom about the uniqueness of parallel lines through a point not on a given line.

Parallels Desktop, created for Mac computers, permits running Microsoft Windows and other operating systems within a virtual machine on macOS. It is part of a broader family including Parallels Remote Application Server, which focuses on delivering applications remotely. The software is designed for ease of use, integration with macOS features, and performance optimization.

In media and entertainment, multiple works have used the title Parallels to explore themes of alternate dimensions, time travel, or coinciding events. These works span films, television episodes, and interactive media.