A vApp is a container for a software solution and is the standard unit of deployment in vCloud Director. It has power-on operations, consists of one or more virtual machines, virtual networks, and metadata, and can be imported or exported as an OVF package.

When a vApp is started, it deploys virtual networks and virtual machines and consumes organization virtual data center reservations. A partially powered-on vApp is a vApp state where one or more VMs within the vApp have been powered down, but networks and reservations are still consumed. A vApp in Stopped state releases all but storage resources.