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What is open-source software?

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Quick answer

Open-source software is software whose source code is freely available for anyone to view, use, modify, and share. Built by communities of volunteers and companies, it powers much of the internet — from web servers to operating systems. Its source code is public and free to use or modify.

Key things to understand

  1. Its source code is public and free to use or modify.
  2. Anyone can inspect, improve, or share it.
  3. It's often built by global communities of contributors.
  4. Examples include Linux, Firefox, and countless tools.

People also ask

What is open-source software?
Software with publicly available source code that anyone can use, study, modify, and distribute.
Is open-source software free?
Usually free to use, though 'open source' is really about freedom to access and change the code.
Why is open-source software important?
It drives innovation, transparency, and much of the internet's core infrastructure.
Is open-source software safe?
Often very safe — open code means many people can spot and fix bugs — but stick to well-maintained, popular projects.
What are examples of open-source software?
Linux, Firefox, VLC, WordPress, and Python are all widely used open-source projects.