Concept
Open-source software
Open-source software is released under a licence that lets anyone use, study, modify and distribute it for any purpose.
How it connects
Related to
- Open-source software relates to Linux Foundation. Neutral host for open technology projects.
- Open-source software relates to Open Source Definition. The usual definition of open-source software.
- Open-source software relates to Open Source Initiative. Maintains the definition and the approved-licence list for open source.
- Open-source software relates to SPDX. Its licence list covers free, open and collaborative software.
Links
Details
Description
It is most often defined by the Open Source Definition, which the Open Source Initiative publishes and for which it keeps a list of conforming licences. It overlaps heavily with free software, from which it differs mainly in emphasis.
Attributes
| url | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source_software |
|---|---|
| identifiers | wikidata: Q1130645 |
| status | active |
| governance | Not applicable |
| prominence | extended |
| type | Concept |
| Tags | region: global, openness: open source |
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source_software(opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-11-13): Definition; relation to the OSD and OSI; free software overlap (first 100,000 characters read).
- https://opensource.org/osd(opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-11-13)
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1130645(opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-11-13)
Last reviewed: 2026-11-13
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