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| family = [[Unix-like]]
| working state = Current
| source model = [[Open-source software|Open
| released = {{start date and age|1991|9|17}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/linus-torvalds-reveals-the-true-30th-anniversary-of-linux-code/|title=Linus Torvalds reveals the 'true' anniversary of Linux code |access-date=August 29, 2025}}</ref>
| latest release version = <!-- The kernel version is displayed on the "Linux kernel" article; please don't insert it here, as this article covers Linux kernel + userland combos. -->
| latest release date =
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'''Linux''' ({{IPAc-en||ˈ|l|ɪ|n|ʊ|k|s}} {{respell|LIN|uuks}}<ref name="pronunciation-2">{{ cite newsgroup |newsgroup= comp.os.linux | title = Re: How to pronounce ''Linux''? |message-id= 1992Apr23.123216.22024@klaava.Helsinki.FI | date = April 23, 1992 |access-date=January 9, 2007 | url=https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.os.linux/L_TTOib3_08/yOG2vLtsp1MJ}}</ref>) is a family of [[open source]] [[Unix-like]] [[operating system]]s based on the [[Linux kernel]],<ref>{{ cite book | last = Eckert | first = Jason W. | year = 2012 | title = Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification | edition = Third | publisher = Cengage Learning | place = Boston, Massachusetts | page = 33 | isbn = 978-1111541538 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=EHLH4S78LmsC&pg=PA33 | access-date = April 14, 2013 | quote = The shared commonality of the kernel is what defines a system's membership in the Linux family; the differing [[open-source software|OSS]] applications that can interact with the common kernel are what differentiate Linux distributions. | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130509031220/http://books.google.com/books?id=EHLH4S78LmsC&pg=PA33 | archive-date = May 9, 2013 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> an [[kernel (operating system)|operating system kernel]] first released on September 17, 1991, by [[Linus Torvalds]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Twenty Years of Linux according to Linus Torvalds | url = https://www.zdnet.com/article/twenty-years-of-linux-according-to-linus-torvalds/ | publisher = ZDNet | date = April 13, 2011 | access-date = September 19, 2016 | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160919232940/http://www.zdnet.com/article/twenty-years-of-linux-according-to-linus-torvalds/ | archive-date = September 19, 2016 | df = mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite newsgroup | title = Free minix-like kernel sources for 386-AT | author = Linus Benedict Torvalds | date = October 5, 1991 | newsgroup = comp.os.minix | url = https://groups.google.com/group/comp.os.minix/msg/2194d253268b0a1b?pli=1 | access-date = September 30, 2011 | archive-date = March 2, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130302010902/http://groups.google.com/group/comp.os.minix/msg/2194d253268b0a1b?pli=1 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = What Is Linux: An Overview of the Linux Operating System | url = https://medium.com/@theinfovalley097/what-is-linux-an-overview-of-the-linux-operating-system-77bc7421c7e5?sk=b80b38575284317290c86e56001e43b1 | publisher = Medium | access-date = December 21, 2019 | df = mdy-all | archive-date = June 12, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200612030853/https://medium.com/@theinfovalley097/what-is-linux-an-overview-of-the-linux-operating-system-77bc7421c7e5?sk=b80b38575284317290c86e56001e43b1 | url-status = live }}</ref> Linux is typically [[package manager|packaged]] as a [[Linux distribution]] (distro), which includes the kernel and supporting [[system software]] and [[library (computing)|libraries]]—most of which are provided by third parties—to create a complete operating system, designed as a clone of [[Unix]] and released under the [[copyleft]] [[GPL]] license.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 8, 1998 |title=Mac, Windows And Now, Linux |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/10/circuits/articles/08linu.html |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=The New York Times}}</ref><!--END Brief introduction-->
<!--Brief popular distros and key components-->[[List of Linux distributions|Thousands of Linux distributions]] exist, many based directly or indirectly on other distributions;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Major Distributions An overview of major Linux distributions and FreeBSD |url=https://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major |website=Distrowatch |access-date=November 15, 2024 |archive-date=April 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402195650/http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Andrus |first=Brian |date=2024-07-08 |title=Top 12 Most Popular Linux Distros |url=https://www.dreamhost.com/blog/linux-distros/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=DreamHost Blog |language=en-US}}</ref> popular Linux distributions<ref>{{cite web |last=DistroWatch |title=DistroWatch.com: Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD. |url=http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402195650/http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major |archive-date=April 2, 2013 |access-date=2016-12-30 |website=distrowatch.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=himanshu |first=Swapnil |title=Best Linux distros of 2016: Something for everyone |url=https://www.linux.com/news/best-linux-distros-2016/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231170119/http://www.cio.com/article/3023349/linux/best-linux-distros-of-2016-something-for-everyone.html |archive-date=December 31, 2016 |access-date=2022-02-01 |newspaper=CIO}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=10 Top Most Popular Linux Distributions of 2016 |url=http://www.tecmint.com/top-best-linux-distributions-2016/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230141717/http://www.tecmint.com/top-best-linux-distributions-2016/ |archive-date=December 30, 2016 |access-date=2016-12-30 |website=www.tecmint.com}}</ref> include [[Debian]], [[Fedora Linux]], [[Linux Mint]], [[Arch Linux]], and [[Ubuntu]], while commercial distributions include [[Red Hat Enterprise Linux]], [[SUSE Linux Enterprise]], and [[ChromeOS]]. Linux distributions are frequently used in server platforms.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ha |first=Dan |date=2023-02-28 |title=9 reasons Linux is a popular choice for servers |url=https://www.logicmonitor.com/blog/9-reasons-linux-is-a-popular-choice-for-servers |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=LogicMonitor |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Linux OS on IBM Z Mainframe |url=https://www.ibm.com/z/linux |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=www.ibm.com |language=en}}</ref> 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, [[GNU/Linux naming controversy|causing some controversy]].<ref name="gnu_linux_faq" /><ref name="linux-and-gnu">{{cite web |title=Linux and the GNU System |url=https://www.gnu.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319145123/http://www.gnu.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html |archive-date=March 19, 2017 |access-date=September 1, 2013 |publisher=Gnu.org |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Other than the Linux kernel, key components that make up a distribution may include a [[Display server|display server (windowing system)]], a [[package manager]], a [[bootloader]] and a [[Unix shell]].<!--END Brief popular distros and key components-->
<!--Status and use-->Linux is one of the most prominent examples of free and open-source [[software]] collaboration. While originally developed for [[x86]] based [[personal computer]]s, it has since been [[porting|ported]] to more [[computer hardware platforms|platforms]] than any other operating system,<ref>{{cite news |author=Barry Levine |date=August 26, 2013 |title=Linux' {{sic|22|th|nolink=yes}} Birthday Is Commemorated – Subtly – by Creator |url=http://www.cmswire.com/cms/information-management/linux-22th-birthday-is-commemorated-subtly-by-creator-022244.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518155152/http://www.cmswire.com/cms/information-management/linux-22th-birthday-is-commemorated-subtly-by-creator-022244.php |archive-date=May 18, 2015 |access-date=May 10, 2015 |publisher=Simpler Media Group, Inc |quote="Originally developed for Intel x86-based PCs, Torvalds' "hobby" has now been released for more hardware platforms than any other OS in history."}}</ref> and is used on a wide variety of devices including PCs, [[workstations]], [[mainframes]] and [[embedded system]]s. Linux is the predominant operating system for [[Server (computing)|servers]] and is also used on all of the [[TOP500|world's 500 fastest supercomputers]].{{Efn|As measured by the [[TOP500]] list, which uses [[LINPACK benchmarks#HPL|HPL]] to measure computational power}} When combined with [[Android (operating system)|Android]], which is Linux-based and designed for [[smartphone]]s, they have the [[Usage share of operating systems|largest installed base]] of all [[general-purpose operating system]]s.<!--END Status and use--><!--Try to keep the intro simple and concise; detailed and trivial info can go in the Overview section-->{{TOC limit}}
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The primary difference between Linux and many other popular contemporary operating systems is that the Linux kernel and other components are free and open-source software. Linux is not the only such operating system, although it is by far the most widely used.<ref name="MarketShare09NOV">{{cite web|url = http://marketshare.hitslink.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?qprid=8|title = Operating System Market Share|access-date = December 11, 2009|last = Operating System Market Share|date = November 2009|url-status=live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100125022803/http://marketshare.hitslink.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?qprid=8|archive-date = January 25, 2010|df = mdy-all}}</ref> Some [[free software license|free]] and [[open-source license|open-source software licenses]] are based on the principle of [[copyleft]], a kind of reciprocity: any work derived from a copyleft piece of software must also be copyleft itself. The most common free software license, the GNU General Public License (GPL), is a form of copyleft and is used for the Linux kernel and many of the components from the GNU Project.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is Copyleft? – GNU Project – Free Software Foundation |url=https://www.gnu.org/licenses/copyleft.en.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006133153/https://www.gnu.org/licenses/copyleft.en.html |archive-date=October 6, 2015 |access-date=2020-05-12 |website=www.gnu.org |language=en}}</ref>
Linux-based distributions are intended by developers for [[interoperability]] with other operating systems and established computing standards. Linux systems adhere to POSIX,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ukuug.org/newsletter/linux-newsletter/linux@uk21/posix.shtml | title = POSIX.1 (FIPS 151-2) Certification | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120226091425/http://www.ukuug.org/newsletter/linux-newsletter/linux@uk21/posix.shtml | archive-date = February 26, 2012 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> [[Single UNIX Specification]] (SUS),<ref>{{cite web | title = How source code compatible is Debian with other Unix systems? | url = http://www.debian.org/doc/FAQ/ch-compat.en.html#s-otherunices | work = Debian FAQ | publisher = the Debian project | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111016004547/http://www.debian.org/doc/FAQ/ch-compat.en.html#s-otherunices | archive-date = October 16, 2011 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> [[Linux Standard Base]] (LSB), [[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]], and [[American National Standards Institute|ANSI]] standards where possible, although to date only one Linux distribution has been POSIX.1 certified, Linux-FT.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/0131 |title=Certifying Linux |last=Eissfeldt |first=Heiko |date=August 1, 1996 |publisher=Linux Journal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404122450/http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/0131 |archive-date=April 4, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.debian.org/doc/FAQ/ch-compat.en.html |title=The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ – Compatibility issues |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010111215/http://www.debian.org/doc/FAQ/ch-compat.en.html |archive-date=October 10, 2011 |access-date=September 17, 2011}}</ref> [[The Open Group]] has tested and certified at least two Linux distributions as qualifying for the Unix trademark, [[EulerOS]] and [[Inspur K-UX]].<ref name="proven20230117">{{Cite web |last=Proven |first=Liam |date=2023-01-17 |title=Unix is dead. Long live Unix! |url=https://www.theregister.com/2023/01/17/unix_is_dead/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250505230444/https://www.theregister.com/2023/01/17/unix_is_dead/ |archive-date=2025-05-05 |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=The Register |language=en}}</ref>
Free software projects, although developed through [[collaboration]], are often produced independently of each other. The fact that the software licenses explicitly permit redistribution, however, provides a basis for larger-scale projects that collect the software produced by stand-alone projects and make it available all at once in the form of a Linux distribution.
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