Ubuntu
| Ubuntu | |
|---|---|
Ubuntu 25.10 "Questing Quokka" | |
| Developer | Canonical Ltd. |
| OS family | Linux (Unix-like), Debian-based |
| Working state | Current |
| Source model | Open-source |
| Initial release | 20 October 2004 |
| Latest release | Interim: 25.10 / 9 October 2025 LTS: 24.04.4 LTS / 12 February 2026 |
| Repository | |
| Marketing target | Cloud computing, personal computers, servers, supercomputers, IoT |
| Available in | More than 55 languages by LoCos |
| Update method | Software Updater, Ubuntu Software, apt |
| Package manager | GNOME Software, dpkg (APT), Snap – graphical front-end: Snap Store |
| Supported platforms | |
| Kernel type | Monolithic (Linux kernel) |
| Userland | uutils (formerly GNU) |
| Default user interface | GNOME |
| License | Free software + some proprietary device drivers, excluding trademarks |
| Official website | ubuntu |
Ubuntu (/ʊˈbʊntuː/ ⓘ uu-BUUN-too) is a Linux distribution based on Debian and composed primarily of free and open-source software. Developed by the British company Canonical and a community of contributors under a meritocratic governance model, Ubuntu is released in multiple official editions: Desktop, Server, and Core for IoT and robotic devices.
Ubuntu is published on a six-month release cycle, with long-term support (LTS) versions issued every two years. Canonical provides security updates and support until each release reaches its designated end-of-life (EOL), with optional extended support available through the Ubuntu Pro and Expanded Security Maintenance (ESM) services.
Ubuntu can be installed directly on hardware or run within a virtual machine. It is widely used for cloud computing, with integration support for platforms such as OpenStack. It is also one of the most popular Linux distributions for general desktop use, supported by extensive online communities such as Ask Ubuntu, and has spawned numerous community-maintained variants.
The name "Ubuntu" comes from the Nguni philosophy of ubuntu, which translates roughly as "humanity to others" or "I am what I am because of who we all are".