Linux is the kernel—a program that manages hardware resources for software applications—in operating systems collectively called Linux distributions, or distros. Due to its versatility, stability, performance, and ease of use, the free, open-source kernel powers billions of machines, including routers, Chromebooks, smart devices, and Android phones. Over half of all web servers, about 90% of all cloud workloads, and all 500 of the world's fastest supercomputers run on Linux.
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The Linux kernel, which bridges hardware and software, serves as the basis for many fully customizable operating systems, whose components can be modified or removed to optimize performance or reduce bloat on devices with limited resources. This has made these OSes useful for low-power devices like smart thermostats, as well as for powerful supercomputers that require computational efficiency.
A kernel is an intermediary piece of software on a device that manages the connection between software programs—the services and processes they perform to run correctly—and the available hardware resources, such as memory and computing bandwidth, including prioritizing resource allocation and managing access to specific hardware. A monolithic kernel manages all of an operating system's services, whereas a microkernel only handles essential services.
Originally written as part of a personal project, Torvalds acknowledges that Linux's growth came from opening it up to a community of users who could each work on different components, including those that were not his strength, such as the user interface. He also admits to being an engineer, rather than a visionary, relating more to Thomas Edison than Nikola Tesla.
Amid conflicts over standardizing and controlling various versions of UNIX—an operating system developed at Bell Labs and owned by AT&T—the GNU Project was announced to create a free, open-source OS. Originally designed for Intel's 386 CPU under the name "Freax," Linus Torvalds Linux kernel would be combined with GNU Project software and customized by growing numbers of developers into many OSes, each tailored to specific computing needs.
When Linus Torvalds developed the Linux kernel—the foundational layer of an operating system—developers incorporated it into other readily available components of the GNU Project to create complete systems. Although these OSes have been colloquially referred to as "Linux" for simplicity for decades, the GNU Project has long argued that they should be called "GNU/Linux" to honor the project's contributions.
While Ubuntu and Linux Mint are among the most beginner-friendly general-use operating systems, Arch Linux is a more advanced option, with a dedicated Arch Wiki available for support. Many Linux distros are optimized for specific use cases, such as Kali Linux for security work and Pop!_OS for high-performance gaming and software development.
During a trip to an Australian zoo, Linus Torvalds, the developer of the Linux kernel, was bitten by a penguin, which inspired the animal to be selected as the software's logo. The first design was drafted by Larry Ewing while a student at Texas A&M University, and the Tux name—short for tuxedo—aligned with the animal's appearance.
The nonprofit, founded in 2000 by IBM, HP, Intel, and others as the Open Source Development Labs, was established to build the infrastructure needed to scale with the growing development of Linux. Upon merging with the Free Standards Group in 2007, it rebranded as the Linux Foundation and, as of 2024, provides a "neutral home for code and collaboration" to almost 1,000 projects.
This has been driven by kernel-level customizations available with Linux-based operating systems that improve computational performance and reduce latency. As of 2025, Linux's desktop market share is 3.7%, but 87.8% of machine learning workloads run on Linux infrastructure. The Linux OS market is expected to grow 105.8% through 2029.
In 2005, after enduring several challenges with BitKeeper—the system then used to manage the Linux source code—Linus Torvalds spent about 10 days writing code for Git, a new system to organize and track versions throughout kernel development. Git provides distributed version control for GitHub, which, as of 2023, is the world's largest host of software development projects.
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