Android (operating system): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 05:13, 26 June 2025

Revision as of 19:03, 8 July 2025

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| latest preview date =

| latest release version = [[Android 16]]

| latest release date = {{Start date and age|2025|0607|1008}}

| marketing target = [[Smartphone]]s, [[tablet computer]]s, [[smart TV]]s ([[Android TV]]), cars ([[Android Automotive]]) and [[smartwatch]]es ([[Wear OS]])

| programmed in = [[Java (programming language)|Java]], [[Kotlin (programming language)|Kotlin]] (UI), [[C (programming language)|C]] (core), [[C++]], [[Rust (programming language)|Rust]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://security.googleblog.com/2022/12/memory-safe-languages-in-android-13.html | title=Memory Safe Languages in Android 13 }}</ref> and others

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'''Android''' is an [[operating system]] based on a modified version of the [[Linux kernel]] and other [[open-source software|open-source]] software, designed primarily for [[touchscreen]]-based mobile devices such as [[smartphone]]s and [[tablet computer|tablets]]. Android has historically been developed by a consortium of developers known as the [[Open Handset Alliance]], but its most widely used version is primarily developed by [[Google]]. First released in 2008, Android is the world's [[Usage share of operating systems|most widely used operating system]]; the latest version, released on JuneJuly 108, 2025, is [[Android 16]].<!--END Brief introduction; do not overload this section-->

<!--Brief info about the OS and structure.-->At its core, the operating system is known as the '''Android Open Source Project''' ('''AOSP''')<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=July 21, 2018 |title=Google's iron grip on Android: Controlling open source by any means necessary |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/07/googles-iron-grip-on-android-controlling-open-source-by-any-means-necessary/ |access-date=December 31, 2022 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref> and is [[free and open-source software]] (FOSS) primarily licensed under the [[Apache License]]. However, most devices run the [[proprietary software|proprietary]] Android version developed by Google, which ships with additional proprietary closed-source software pre-installed,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/android-really-open-source-matter/|title=Is Android Really Open Source? And Does It Even Matter?|website=MakeUseOf|date=March 28, 2016}}</ref> most notably [[Google Mobile Services]] (GMS),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.android.com/gms/|title=Android – Google Mobile Services|website=Android|quote=While the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) provides common, device-level functionalities such as email and calling, GMS is not part of AOSP. GMS is only available through a license with Google [..] We ask GMS partners to pass a simple compatibility test and adhere to our compatibility requirements for their Android devices.|access-date=October 21, 2018}}</ref> which includes core apps such as [[Google Chrome]], the [[digital distribution]] platform [[Google Play]], and the associated [[Google Play Services]] development platform. [[Firebase Cloud Messaging]] is used for push notifications. While AOSP is free, the "Android" name and logo are [[Trademark|trademarks]] of Google, who restrict the use of Android branding on "uncertified" products.<ref>{{cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://source.android.com/setup/start/faqs |access-date=January 4, 2021 |publisher=Android Open Source Project}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Simon |first=Michael |date=December 26, 2016 |title=With Cyanogen dead, Google's control over Android is tighter than ever |url=https://www.greenbot.com/article/3153485/with-cyanogen-dead-googles-control-over-android-is-tighter-than-ever.html |access-date=January 4, 2021 |website=www.greenbot.com}}</ref> The majority of smartphones based on AOSP run Google's ecosystem—which is known simply as Android—some with [[vendor]]-customized user interfaces and software suites,<ref>{{cite web |last=Hughes |first=Terry |date=July 28, 2014 |title=Google and Android Are Not the Same... and That's a Good Thing |url=https://appdevelopermagazine.com/google-and-android-are-not-the-same...-and-that's-a-good-thing/ |access-date=July 29, 2020 |work=App Developer Magazine}}</ref> for example [[One UI]]. Numerous [[List of custom Android distributions|modified distributions]] exist, which include competing [[Fire OS|Amazon Fire OS]], community-developed [[LineageOS]]; the source code has also been used to develop a variety of Android distributions on a range of other electronics, such as [[Android TV]] for televisions, [[Wear OS]] for [[Wearable computer|wearables]], and [[Meta Horizon OS]] for [[Virtual reality headset|VR headsets]]. <!--END Brief info about the OS and structure.-->

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|[[Android 16|16]]

|JuneJuly 108, 2025

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Google provides annual<ref>{{cite web |first=Peter |last=K. |title=We'll get a major Android release every year from now on: Android M tomorrow, Android N in 2016 |url=http://www.phonearena.com/news/Well-get-a-major-Android-release-every-year-from-now-on-Android-M-tomorrow-Android-N-in-2016_id69709 |website=PhoneArena |date=May 27, 2015 |access-date=March 13, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313214349/http://www.phonearena.com/news/Well-get-a-major-Android-release-every-year-from-now-on-Android-M-tomorrow-Android-N-in-2016_id69709 |archive-date=March 13, 2017 }}</ref> Android releases, both for factory installation in new devices, and for [[Over-the-air programming|over-the-air]] updates to existing devices.<ref>{{cite web |title=OTA Updates |url=https://source.android.com/devices/tech/ota/ |website=Android Source |access-date=March 13, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225095155/https://source.android.com/devices/tech/ota/ |archive-date=December 25, 2016 }}</ref> The latest major release is [[Android 16]].