Linux is an open-source, Unix-like operating system based on the Linux kernel. It was first developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991 and has since become one of the most widely used operating systems in the world. Linux is known for its stability, security, and flexibility, and it is used in a variety of applications, from personal computers to servers and supercomputers. It is also the basis for many other open-source operating systems, such as Android and Chrome OS. Linux comes in many different distributions or “distros”, such as Ubuntu, Debian, Red Hat, and Fedora, each with its own features and user interfaces.