# Open source
> Open source software makes its code available for people to inspect, use, or improve under a license.
Topics: Apps, Computing
Difficulty: Getting technical
Aliases: OSS
Updated: 2026-06-26T08:00:00.000Z
## Go deeper
Open source software makes its code available for people to inspect, use, or improve under a license. In everyday buying decisions, the useful question is not just what the spec says, but what it changes for comfort, cost, speed, safety, or battery life.