Linux kernel

Unix-like operating system kernel, basis for all Linux operating systems
CreativeWork free_and_open_source_software Q14579
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Linux kernel

Summary

Linux kernel is a free and open-source software[1]. It ranks in the top 0.59% of free_and_open_source_software entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (6,649 views/month, #1 of 170).[2]

Key Facts

  • Linux kernel is the creator of Linus Torvalds[3].
  • Linux kernel's instance of is recorded as free and open-source software[4].
  • Linux kernel's instance of is recorded as kernel[5].
  • Linux kernel's instance of is recorded as collaborative work[6].
  • Linux kernel's instance of is recorded as computing platform[7].
  • Linux kernel's founder is recorded as Linus Torvalds[8].
  • Linus Torvalds is named after Linux kernel[9].
  • Q11368 is named after Linux kernel[10].
  • Linux kernel's developer is recorded as Linus Torvalds[11].
  • Linux kernel's developer is recorded as Alan Cox[12].
  • Linux kernel's developer is recorded as Greg Kroah-Hartman[13].
  • Linux kernel's developer is recorded as Ingo Molnár[14].
  • Linux kernel's developer is recorded as Andrew Morton[15].
  • Linux kernel's developer is recorded as Mauro Carvalho Chehab[16].
  • Linux kernel's copyright license is recorded as GNU General Public License, version 2.0[17].
  • Linux kernel's programmed in is recorded as Q15777[18].
  • Linux kernel's programmed in is recorded as assembly language[19].
  • Linux kernel's programmed in is recorded as Q575650[20].
  • Linux kernel's software version identifier is recorded as 3.17[21].
  • Linux kernel's software version identifier is recorded as 3.16.3[22].
  • Linux kernel's software version identifier is recorded as 3.16[23].
  • Linux kernel's software version identifier is recorded as 3.15[24].
  • Linux kernel's software version identifier is recorded as 3.14[25].
  • Linux kernel's software version identifier is recorded as 3.13[26].
  • Linux kernel's software version identifier is recorded as 3.12[27].

Body

Authorship and Creation

Linux kernel is the creator of Linus Torvalds[3].

Cultural Impact

Things named for Linux kernel include Linux[28], founded in 1991[29]; Linux Mint[30], a Linux distribution[31], founded in 2006[32]; Linux-libre[33], a monolithic kernel[34], founded in 2008[35]; Linux user group[36], an association[37]; and Linux Surface[38], a monolithic kernel[39].

Why It Matters

Linux kernel ranks in the top 0.59% of free_and_open_source_software entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (6,649 views/month, #1 of 170).[2] It has Wikipedia articles in 28 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[40] It is known by 28 alternative names across languages and contexts.[41]

It has been cited as an influence by Redox[42], a free operating system[43], founded in 2015[44].

Entities named for it include Linux[28], founded in 1991[29]; Linux Mint[30], a Linux distribution[31], founded in 2006[32]; Linux-libre[33], a monolithic kernel[34], founded in 2008[35]; Linux user group[36], an association[37]; and Linux Surface[38], a monolithic kernel[39].

FAQs

Who did Linux kernel influence?

Linux kernel has been cited as an influence by Redox[42].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

  1. [4] . wikidata.org.
  2. [5] . wikidata.org.
  3. [6] . wikidata.org.
  4. [7] . wikidata.org.
  5. [8] . web.archive.org. web.archive.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  6. [9] . wikidata.org.
  7. [10] . wikidata.org.
  8. [3] . web.archive.org. web.archive.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  9. [11] . wikidata.org.
  10. [12] . wikidata.org.
  11. [13] . wikidata.org.
  12. [14] . wikidata.org.
  13. [15] . wikidata.org.
  14. [16] . git.kernel.org. Retrieved . git.kernel.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  15. [17] . Open Hub. Retrieved . mirrors.edge.kernel.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  16. [18] . Open Hub. Retrieved . openhub.net. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  17. [19] . wikidata.org.
  18. [20] . lkml.org. lkml.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  19. [21] . lkml.iu.edu. lkml.iu.edu. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  20. [22] . wikidata.org.
  21. [23] . lkml.org. Retrieved . lkml.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  22. [24] . lkml.org. lkml.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  23. [25] . lkml.org. lkml.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  24. [26] . lkml.org. lkml.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  25. [27] . lkml.org. lkml.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.

Inverse relationships (entities pointing at this one)

  1. [42] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [28] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [30] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [33] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [36] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [38] . wikidata.org. → on this site

Inline context (facts about related entities)

  1. [43] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [44] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [29] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [31] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [32] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [34] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [35] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [37] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [39] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

Class ancestry

  1. [1] . Wikidata. wikidata.org.

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [2] . Wikimedia Foundation. dumps.wikimedia.org.
  2. [40] . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  3. [41] . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

📑 Cite this page

Use these citations when quoting this entity in research, articles, AI prompts, or wherever provenance matters. We aggregate Wikidata + Wikipedia + authoritative open-data sources; the stitched, scored, cross-referenced view is what 4ort.xyz contributes.

APA 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). Linux kernel. Retrieved May 3, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/linux-kernel
MLA “Linux kernel.” 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph, 4ort.xyz, 3 May. 2026, https://4ort.xyz/entity/linux-kernel.
BibTeX @misc{4ortxyz_linux-kernel_2026, author = {{4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph}}, title = {{Linux kernel}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://4ort.xyz/entity/linux-kernel}, note = {Accessed: 2026-05-03}}
LLM prompt According to 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph (aggregator of Wikidata, Wikipedia, and authoritative open-data sources): Linux kernel — https://4ort.xyz/entity/linux-kernel (retrieved 2026-05-03)

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Edit History

Rolling log of changes to this entity's Wikidata record. Values shown reflect the current state of each edited property — follow the history link to see the precise diff for any edit.

  1. 1d ago · Lokiretro · 2026-05-19 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Software version identifier 3.17, 3.16.3, 3.16 +832
    "/* wbsetclaim-create:2||1 */ [[Property:P348]]: 7.0.9"
  2. 11d ago · S8321414 · 2026-05-09 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Software version identifier 3.17, 3.16.3, 3.16 +832
    "/* wbsetclaim-update:2||1 */ [[Property:P348]]: 7.0.4"
  3. 14d ago · S8321414 · 2026-05-06 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Software version identifier 3.17, 3.16.3, 3.16 +832
    "/* wbsetclaim-update:2||1 */ [[Property:P348]]: 7.0.2"
Live feed via Wikidata EventStreams. New edits appear within minutes of being made on Wikidata.