An ISO image is a digital replica of a physical disc, such as a CD, DVD, or Blu-ray, encapsulating all its data and file structures into a single file. This format is widely adopted by software companies to distribute apps and tools efficiently, eliminating the costs and logistics associated with physical media. For instance, Microsoft uses ISO images to distribute Windows 11 (and 10) installation files as well as previews to testers and various other products.
Although many tools exist for working with images, Windows 10 and Windows 11 include the ability to mount ISO files natively without the need for extra software.
