Android (OS)

Android is a mobile operating system based on a modified version of the Linux kernel and other open source software, designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Android is developed by a consortium of developers known as the Open Handset Alliance, with the main contributor and commercial marketer being Google.^[10]

Android
Logo since 2019
Screenshot Android 10 home screen with Pixel Launcher
Developer	Various (mostly Google and the Open Handset Alliance)
Written in	Java (UI), C (core), C++ and others^[1]
OS family	Unix-like (Modified Linux kernel)
Working state	Current
Source model	Open source (most devices include proprietary components, such as Google Play)
Initial release	September 23, 2008; 11 years ago^[2]
Latest release	Android 10 / September 3, 2019; 6 months ago^[3]
Repository	android.googlesource.com
Marketing target	Smartphones, tablet computers, smart TVs (Android TV), Android Auto and smartwatches (Wear OS)
Available in	100+ languages^[4]
Update method	Over-the-air
Package manager	APK-based
Platforms	32- and 64-bit ARM, x86 and x86-64
Kernel type	Linux kernel
Userland	Bionic libc,^[5] mksh shell,^[6] Toybox as core utilities (beginning with Android 6.0)^[7]^[8]
Default user interface	Graphical (multi-touch)
License	Apache License 2.0 GNU GPL v2 for the Linux kernel modifications^[9]
Official website	www.android.com