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| Developer | Open Handset Alliance (led by Google) |
|---|---|
| Written in | Java, Kotlin (UI), C (core), C++, Rust[1] and others |
| OS family | Unix-like (modified Linux kernel) |
| Working state | Current |
| Source model | Open source, freeware (most devices include proprietary components, such as Google Play Services or One UI) |
| Initial release | Android 1.0 September 23, 2008 |
| Latest release | Android 15 / October 15, 2024 |
| Latest preview | Android 16 Developer Preview 1 / November 19, 2024 |
| Repository | |
| Marketing target | Smartphones, tablet computers, smart TVs (Android TV), cars (Android Automotive) and smartwatches (Wear OS) |
| Available in | 100+ languages |
| Update method | Over-the-air |
| Package manager | APK-based |
| Platforms | ARM64 (previous versions were also compatible with ARMv7, x86, x86-64, MIPS and RISC-V; these architectures are still unofficially supported via third-party solutions)[2][3] |
| Kernel type | Monolithic (Linux kernel) |
| Userland | Bionic libc, mksh shell, Toybox as core utilities |
| Default user interface | Graphical (multi-touch) |
| License |
|
| Official website | www |
| Support status | |
| Supported | |
| Articles in the series | |
| Android version history | |
Android is a mobile operating system based on a modified version of the Linux kernel and other open-source software, designed primarily for touchscreen-based mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. It is the world's most widely used operating system due to it being used on most smartphones and tablets outside of iPhones and iPads, which use Apple's iOS and iPadOS,[a] respectively. As of October 2024[update], Android accounts for 45% of the global operating system market, followed by Windows with 26%.[4]
Android has historically been developed by a consortium of developers known as the Open Handset Alliance, but its most widely used version is primarily developed by Google. It was unveiled in November 2007, with the first commercial Android device, the HTC Dream, being launched in September 2008.
At its core, the operating system is known as the Android Open Source Project (AOSP)[5] and is free and open-source software (FOSS) primarily licensed under the Apache License. However, most devices run the proprietary Android version developed by Google, which ships with additional proprietary closed-source software pre-installed,[6] most notably Google Mobile Services (GMS),[7] which includes core apps such as Google Chrome, the digital distribution platform Google Play, and the associated Google Play Services development platform. Firebase Cloud Messaging is used for push notifications. While AOSP is free, the "Android" name and logo are trademarks of Google, which imposes standards to restrict the use of Android branding by "uncertified" devices outside their ecosystem.[8][9]
Over 70% of smartphones based on the Android Open Source Project run Google's ecosystem (which is known simply as Android), some with vendor-customized user interfaces and software suites, such as TouchWiz and later One UI by Samsung and HTC Sense.[10] Competing ecosystems and forks of AOSP include Fire OS developed by Amazon, ColorOS by Oppo, OriginOS by Vivo, MagicUI by Honor, and custom ROMs such as LineageOS, as well as Meta Horizon OS for VR headsets.
Android's source code has been used to develop variants on a range of other electronics, such as game consoles, digital cameras, portable media players, and PCs, each with a specialized user interface. Some well-known derivatives include Android TV for televisions and Wear OS for wearables, both developed by Google. Software packages on Android, which use the APK format, are generally distributed through proprietary application stores like Google Play Store, Amazon Appstore, Samsung Galaxy Store, Huawei AppGallery, Cafe Bazaar, GetJar, and Aptoide, or open source platforms like F-Droid.
Android has been the most used operating system worldwide on smartphones since 2011 and on tablets since 2013. As of May 2021[update], it has over three billion monthly active users, the largest installed base of any operating system in the world,[11] and, as of 2024[update], the Google Play Store features 1.7 million apps; a decline from its of peak of over 3 million apps in April 2021.[12] Android 15, released on October 15, 2024, is the latest version and includes improvements specific to foldable phones, tablets, desktop-sized screens, and Chromebooks.[13]
- ^ "Memory Safe Languages in Android 13".
- ^ García, Érika (September 2021). "Google bans 32-bit apps from Android for good". Retrieved November 22, 2021.
- ^ "32-bits is dead: Here's what it means for Android, Apple, and more". Android Authority. June 12, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
- ^ "Desktop, Mobile & Tablet Operating System Market Share Worldwide". StatCounter Global Stats. October 11, 2024. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
- ^ Amadeo, Ron (July 21, 2018). "Google's iron grip on Android: Controlling open source by any means necessary". Ars Technica. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- ^ "Is Android Really Open Source? And Does It Even Matter?". MakeUseOf. March 28, 2016.
- ^ "Android – Google Mobile Services". Android. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
While the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) provides common, device-level functionalities such as email and calling, GMS is not part of AOSP. GMS is only available through a license with Google [..] We ask GMS partners to pass a simple compatibility test and adhere to our compatibility requirements for their Android devices.
- ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". Android Open Source Project. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- ^ Simon, Michael (December 26, 2016). "With Cyanogen dead, Google's control over Android is tighter than ever". www.greenbot.com. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- ^ Hughes, Terry (July 28, 2014). "Google and Android Are Not the Same... and That's a Good Thing". App Developer Magazine. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- ^ Cranz, Alex (May 18, 2021). "There are over 3 billion active Android devices". The Verge. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
3 million appswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "What's new in Android 15, plus more updates". Google. October 15, 2024. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
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