Software License
Software License
The terms of use and permission a developer grants a user for using a piece of software.
In Simple Terms
A software license is the set of rules you agree to follow when using software on your computer or smartphone. It's exactly what that terms-of-use screen you see when setting up new software is all about. It spells out specific conditions, like agreeing to use the software on only one computer or promising not to copy it without permission.
Behind the Name
The term simply combines "software" (a computer program) with "license" (permission or authorization). Put together, it means "permission to use the software" — the essential set of rules that lets you use software safely and correctly.
Take a Closer Look!
A software license is the set of rules a developer sets for how their software may be used.
Getting a copy of the software doesn't make it your property — it only grants you the right to use it.
This license spells out everything: how many computers you can use it on, and whether you're allowed to copy or modify it.
Broadly speaking, there are two main approaches.
The first is called "proprietary" software, where the developer tightly restricts how it can be used.
These licenses often limit the number of devices you can use it on and prohibit copying or modification, and they're common with paid business software.
The other is "open source" software, which publishes its source code — the underlying blueprint — and broadly allows copying, modifying, and redistributing it.
Even within open source, though, there are several types, ranging from licenses that require any modified version to be released under the same terms, to ones that are nearly unrestricted.
Put simply, it's the "user agreement" that comes bundled with a piece of software.
Even free software doesn't mean "anything goes" — the terms vary from one program to another.
That's why it's important to check a program's license, especially before using or distributing software for work.