What is Linux?
Linux is an operating system, just like Microsoft Windows and MacOS. An operating system (OS) is the core software that manages the hardware of a computer and provides a platform for applications to run on. Commonly used OSes have a graphical interface and come with some basic applications like a calculator, web browser, and calendar.
Linux is known for being stable, secure, and efficient, and it is often used on servers, like this web server, and other large systems where these qualities are essential. It is also widely used on personal computers and is often preferred by users looking for a more customizable or open-source alternative to other operating systems.
What are Linux distributions?
Unlike most OSes, Linux comes in many available “flavours” like Ubuntu, Linux Mint and MX Linux. They’re called distributions because it’s how Linux is distributed. What Linux distributions have in common is the use of the Linux kernel (the core program), certain software libraries and hardware drivers. They vary by having different graphical looks and the user applications included. Some Linux distributions don’t even have a graphical user interface and are used only by typing in commands.