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This article is about the family of operating systems. For the kernel, see Linux kernel. For other uses, see Linux
(disambiguation).
LinuxTux the penguin
Tux the penguin, mascot of Linux[1]
Developer Linux Foundation
Written in C, Assembly language
OS family Unix-like
Working state Current
Source model Open source
Initial release September 17, 1991; 29 years ago
Repository https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/
Marketing target Cloud computing, embedded devices, mainframe computers, mobile devices, personal
computers, servers, supercomputers
Available in Multilingual
Platforms Alpha, ARC, ARM, ARM64, C6x, H8/300, Hexagon, Itanium, m68k, Microblaze, MIPS, NDS32, Nios II,
OpenRISC, PA-RISC, PowerPC, RISC-V, s390, SuperH, SPARC, Unicore32, x86, x86-64, XBurst, Xtensa
Kernel type Monolithic
Userland GNU[a]
Default user interface Unix shell
License GPLv2[7] and others (the name "Linux" is a trademark[b])
Official website www.kernel.org
Linux (/ˈlinʊks/ (About this soundlisten) LEEN-uuks or /ˈlɪnʊks/ LIN-uuks[9]) is a family of open-source Unix-like
operating systems based on the Linux kernel,[10] an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991,
by Linus Torvalds.[11][12][13] Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution.
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by
the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation
uses the name "GNU/Linux" to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.[14][15]
Popular Linux distributions[16][17][18] include Debian, Fedora, and Ubuntu. Commercial distributions include Red
Hat Enterprise Linux and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. Desktop Linux distributions include a windowing system such
as X11 or Wayland, and a desktop environment such as GNOME or KDE Plasma. Distributions intended for servers
may omit graphics altogether, or include a solution stack such as LAMP. Because Linux is freely redistributable,
anyone may create a distribution for any purpose.[19]
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.[20] Because of the dominance of the Linux-based
Android on smartphones, Linux also has the largest installed base of all general-purpose operating systems.[21][22]
[23][24] Although it is used by only around 2.3 percent of desktop computers,[25][26] the Chromebook, which runs
the Linux kernel-based Chrome OS, dominates the US K–12 education market and represents nearly 20 percent of
sub-$300 notebook sales in the US.[27] Linux is the leading operating system on servers (over 96.4% of the top 1
million web servers' operating systems are Linux),[28] leads other big iron systems such as mainframe computers,
and is the only OS used on TOP500 supercomputers (since November 2017, having gradually eliminated all
competitors).[29][30][31]
Linux also runs on embedded systems, i.e. devices whose operating system is typically built into the firmware and is
highly tailored to the system. This includes routers, automation controls, smart home technology (like Google Nest),
[32] televisions (Samsung and LG Smart TVs use Tizen and WebOS, respectively),[33][34][35] automobiles (for
example, Tesla, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, and Toyota all rely on Linux),[36] digital video recorders, video game
