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Why can users modify open-source Linux software?

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A laptop computer — personal computer Programmers may use computer science to design portable computers such as laptops.

Users are able to modify Linux software because it is released as open-source software, meaning its human-readable source code is made publicly available for study, improvement, and alteration.123

Unlike proprietary software, which keeps source code secret to control markets, open-source projects reject such restrictions. Linux is further supported by the principles of the free software movement, which asserts that users should have the fundamental freedom to change and redistribute software.14

To ensure these freedoms remain protected, much of this software is distributed under copyleft agreements, such as the GNU General Public License. These legal contracts allow users to modify the software while requiring that any derivative works retain the same freedoms, preventing others from restricting access to the modified code. This transparent, collaborative model allows developers to fix bugs, enhance security, and adapt the operating system for diverse uses, ranging from supercomputers to smartphones.4513