Explain Like I'm Five

A computer has hardware (your hard drive, memory, screen, processor) and software (a web browser, Discord, apps, etc.). Your operating system is what manages your hardware and software, and provides a user interface for you to interact with. Microsoft Windows, IOS and Android are all types of operating systems. They allow you to run software, change your display settings, connect to the Internet and do anything else that your hardware and software allow.

Linux is an operating system, or more accurately, a collection of operating systems that are free and open source. This means that anyone can take the Linux kernel (the base of the operating system), and create their own distribution, or distro for short. There are dozens of Linux distros out there, each serving different users or different purposes. For this reason, Linux is used on a wide variety of devices. Android on smartphones and tablets, steam OS on gaming handhelds, and the software that powers most smart home appliances, these are all different types of Linux distros!

Just adding to this, Linux is pretty ubiquitous these days, with it being found running billboards, menus, information screens, and many machines and appliances.

Though these versions are stripped down and no what you are used to from a desktop. They just have the kernel and a few services for the task at hand.

You can think of Linux as the underlying engine that runs your computer just like Windows 10/11 or MacOS.

Thankfully just like a car you don't need to fully understand the intricacies in order a Linux desktop🤗

In summary, Linux is and Operating System that gives you control over your machine - not the other way around coughwindowscough. With that power, however, you can also do a lot more harm to your machine if you don't continuously keep learning and stay curious.

It's high risk, but high reward (especially as a new user). There's something about learning how your computer works (via Linux) that continues to captivate me after many years of use.

Just like Windows (95, Me,Vista,XP, 10, 11)OS and macOS (Mountain Lion, Yosemite, El Capita) there is a 3rd option. Linux! It’s free and available to anyone and is highly compatible with most if not all types of hardware. Like all things in life, there are caveats and ability to customize to your discretion. Do not be intimidated by the flavors that exist, such as Ubuntu, Mint, Arch and many many more! As an example there is steamOS used on the Steam Deck. This a a divergent version of another open source OS, that is compatible in using for mobile gaming. My verbiage is limited and very very broad and brief. The history of it all stems from one singularity, the kernel or the “brains” of the computer. All variants of operating systems stem from Unix. This is particularly due to use cases of specificity task, or goal of the program to accomplish.

Communist Windows.

It’s kinda similar to Unix.

I scrolled the comments and every single one is incorrect.

Linux is not an operating system. It is a kernel, which is an important component of an operating system. Operating systems that use the Linux kernel are often referred to as "Linux" for simplicity and brevity, though. It should be understood that when someone says "Linux" they typically are meaning "an operatjng system that uses the Linux kernel".

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_kernel

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kernel_(operating_system)

Linux is a vibe. Like a cosmic string vibrating in twelve dimensions all at once.