Linux is a family of open-source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released by Linus Torvalds on September 17, 1991. Linux is usually packaged as a Linux distribution (distro), which includes the kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project.
Popular Linux distributions include:
Commercial distributions include:
Desktop Linux distributions include a windowing system such as X11 or Wayland and a desktop environment such as GNOME, KDE Plasma, or Xfce.
Server distributions may not have a graphical user interface or include a solution stack such as LAMP.
Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses and recommends the name "GNU/Linux" to emphasize the use and importance of GNU software in many distributions, causing some controversy. Because Linux is freely redistributable, anyone can create a distribution for any purpose.
Linux was originally developed for personal computers based on the Intel x86 architecture, but has since been ported to more platforms than any other operating system. Due to the dominance of the Linux-based Android on smartphones, Linux, including Android, has the largest install base of all general-purpose operating systems as of May 2022. As of March 2024, Linux is used by about 4 percent of desktop computers. Chromebooks, running the Linux kernel-based ChromeOS, dominate the U.S. K–12 education market and account for nearly 20 percent of sub-$300 laptop sales in the United States. Linux is the leading operating system on servers (over 96.4% of the top one million web server operating systems are Linux), leads other large (iron) systems such as mainframes, and is used on all 500 of the world's fastest supercomputers (as of November 2017, it has gradually replaced all competitors).
Linux also runs on embedded systems, i.e. devices whose operating systems are often built into the firmware and are designed specifically for the system. These include routers, home automation controls, smart home devices, video game consoles, televisions (Samsung and LG smart TVs), cars (Tesla, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai and Toyota) and spacecraft (Falcon 9 rocket, Dragon spacecraft and Perseverance rover).
Linux is one of the most prominent examples of the collaboration between free and open-source software. Source code may be used, modified, and distributed by anyone for commercial or non-commercial purposes under the terms of the respective license, such as the GNU General Public License (GPL). For example, the Linux kernel is licensed under the GPLv2, except that system calls that allow code to call the kernel via system calls are not licensed under the GPL.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux