Open Source
Open Source
A system that makes software source code publicly available for anyone to use, modify, and distribute under a license.
In Simple Terms
Open Source is a model where software's source code is made publicly available, allowing anyone to use, modify, and redistribute it under a defined license. Because engineers from around the world can contribute, bugs get discovered quickly and new features are added actively, driving faster improvement. Many of the technologies behind the smartphones and internet services you use every day are built on this model.
Behind the Name
Open Source literally means "open" + "source." Here, "source" refers to "source code" — the blueprint of a software program. In other words, it describes a state where the blueprint is shared openly, with nothing hidden.
Take a Closer Look!
Open Source is a model where the program code (source code) used to build software is made publicly available, allowing anyone to use, modify, and redistribute it within defined rules.
Typically, companies keep their software's internals secret — but Open Source deliberately makes this public.
This allows engineers from all over the world to join and collaborate on development.
With more people involved, bugs get discovered faster, new features are added actively, and the pace of improvement tends to accelerate.
In fact, much of the technology we use every day — from internet servers to the core systems of smartphones — is built on Open Source.
It's an essential culture in the IT industry: sharing technology openly, rather than keeping it within a single company, so everyone can contribute to its growth.