This is a feature of QEMU and not the raw image itself. Most hypervisors have a preferred image format. The two most popular ones for QEMU are qcow2 and raw.

This is a feature of QEMU and not the raw image itself. Most hypervisors have a preferred image format. The two most popular ones for QEMU are qcow2 and raw. Others such as vdi and vhdx can be easily created with the qemu-img tool, which allows easy conversion between image formats. I've successfully run the same raw image in QEMU, VirtualBox, HyperV, and VmWare just by converting it and booting it.