What is open source software?
Open source software has public code that anyone may use, study, change and share under its license.
Open source software is released with its source code available to the public under a license that lets anyone use, inspect, modify and share it. Much of the web runs on open source, including many web servers, programming languages, frameworks and content management systems. It is often free to use, but it still needs updates and someone to maintain your copy. Each license has its own rules about how the code may be reused.
Why it matters for your business: Open source tools can lower costs and avoid lock-in to one vendor, but you still need someone keeping them updated and secure.
Related articles
More in Glossary
Still need help?
Ask our team