Android
By Google
Android is Google's open-source, Linux-based mobile operating system that powers the majority of smartphones and tablets worldwide, along with wearables, TVs, and other connected devices.
Definition
Android is Google's open-source, Linux-based mobile operating system that powers the majority of smartphones and tablets worldwide, along with wearables, TVs, and other connected devices.
Overview
Android is built on the Linux kernel and developed as an open-source project (AOSP), which lets device manufacturers customize and ship it on a huge range of hardware from many companies, rather than a single vendor's devices — a key difference from more tightly controlled mobile platforms. Google maintains the core platform and layers on proprietary services (like the Play Store and Google Play services) on top of the open-source base, which is how most consumer Android devices are actually distributed. Apps are commonly built using Kotlin (Google's preferred language for Android development) or Java, developed in Android Studio, and distributed primarily through the Google Play Store, though Android's openness also allows alternative app stores and sideloading. Beyond native development, cross-platform frameworks like React Native and Flutter let developers target Android (and iOS) from a single codebase, which has become a common strategy for teams that don't want to maintain fully separate native codebases per platform.
Key Features
- Open-source, Linux-based mobile operating system (AOSP)
- Runs across a huge range of manufacturers and device types
- Google Play Store as the primary app distribution channel
- Native development primarily in Kotlin or Java
- Support for cross-platform frameworks like Flutter and React Native
- Extensive customization and sideloading flexibility compared to more closed platforms
- Deep integration with Google services (Play services, Google Assistant, etc.)