Android is a mobile operating system that is based on a modified version of the Linux kernel and other open-source software. It is primarily designed for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Android is created by the Open Handset Alliance, a developer consortium that is commercially supported by Google. It was unveiled in November 2007, with the HTC Dream becoming the first commercial Android device in September 2008.
It is free and open-source software; its source code is referred to as the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), and it is largely licensed under the Apache License. However, most Android smartphones come pre-installed with extra proprietary software, most notably Google Mobile Services (GMS), which includes essential programs like Google Chrome, the digital distribution network Google Play, and the related Google Play Services development platform.
Around 70% of Android devices run Google's ecosystem, with others including vendor-customized user interfaces and software suites, such as TouchWiz and subsequently One UI from Samsung, and HTC Sense. Fire OS (produced by Amazon) and LineageOS are two competing Android ecosystems and forks. The "Android" name and logo, on the other hand, are trademarks of Google, which imposes restrictions to prevent "uncertified" devices outside its ecosystem from using Android branding.
The source code has been used to create Android versions for a variety of different gadgets, including gaming consoles, digital cameras, portable media players, PCs, and others, each with a unique user interface. Google's Android TV for televisions and Wear OS for wearables are two well-known variants. Android software packages that employ the APK format are often released via commercial application stores such as Google Play, Samsung Galaxy Store, Huawei AppGallery, Cafe Bazaar, and GetJar, or open source platforms such as Aptoide or F-Droid.
Since 2011, Android has been the best-selling operating system on smartphones, and since 2013, it has been the best-selling OS on tablets. It has over three billion monthly active users as of May 2021, the biggest installed base of any operating system, and the Google Play Store has over three million apps as of January 2021. Android 11, which was launched on September 8, 2020, is the most recent stable version.
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