Features of Linux Operating System

What are the Features of Linux Operating Systems?

The following are the features of the Linux Operating system:

1. Free and Open-Source

Linux is completely free of cost, and expenses are never a hindrance to using it as an operating system.

Linux is open-source. This means that modification of code, analysis of codes, redistribution of codes, or selling copies of the enhanced codes can be done by anyone in the world provided they come under the same license where the license also costs no charge.

Linux operating system is released under the GNU(General Public Licence) and is now one of the largest open-source projects worldwide.

2. Extremely Flexible

Linux has incorporated itself into embedded products like watches, digital equipment and supercomputing servers.

There are no prerequisites for installing an entire Linux suit. It allows a user to install only the components that are required by the user.

3. Lightweight Infrastructure

Linux consumes lesser storage space, and its installation requires around 4GB to 8GB of disk space.

Memory footprint or the amount of memory (RAM) used by the software while running is also less and it is compatible with all kinds of file formats like text files, audio files, video files, graphic formats, etc.

4. Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Even though Linux works on using the command line interface but it can be converted to be used like windows having a Graphical user interface. This is done mostly by installing packages. The most common way of having a GUI on the Linux environment is to log in to Ubuntu server and install its desktop environment.

5. End-to-end encryption

Linux allows end-to-end encryption while accessing data thus storing public keys in the server. All data is password protected and provides authentication to users. It also allows many security features and provides file permissions, a secure shell, etc.

6. Portable Environment

Linux works on any kind of environment and doesn't depend on the device being high-ended or low-ended. A large number of users can simultaneously use it anytime, any place, and on multiple devices. It supports all kinds of hardware to work on.

Multiple distributions or enterprises are also supported by Linux.

Linux has its own repository for software that can be used to install the required packages.

7. Shell/ Command-line Interface

The Linux command line interpreter is known as Shell that provides an interface between the user and kernel which then executes programs known as commands.

Hence, Linux uses Command-line interface to carry out the execution of tasks which is comparatively more efficient to execute and takes lesser time. It also takes lesser space in the memory,

8. Customized keyboard

Linux is available in all languages which makes it acceptable worldwide. That is why language can be changed from the keyboard according to the requirements and preferences.

Users can also build their own customized layout for keyboards.

9. Frequent New Updates

Linux operating system provides a wide range of accessible software updates that can be deployed and used according to requirements.

They update more frequently thus giving users an option to choose the updates and install them as per their need.

10. Hierarchical File System

Linux comes with a well-defined file structure where user files are arranged in a definite directory structure. According to the type of files, the directories are categorised as Binary directories, configuration directories, Data directories, memory directories, Usr(Unix System Resources), var(variable directory) and non standard directories.

11. Multi-user and Multi-programming

Linux allows multiple users to access the system resources at the same time and allows multiple applications to run at the same time.

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