Android is an open-source mobile operating system. It is used on hundreds of millions of phones and tablets around the world.
This open-source software is based on the Linux kernel, which has been modified to suit the needs of a mobile device. The Android platform also provides support for messaging services, a web browser, and storage (SQLite).
There are two major parts to the Android system. The first is the core, or vanilla. Known as stock, the vanilla portion of the software consists of the software that powers the platform.
The second part is the platform itself, which includes additional software that allows users to customize their phone’s features. These include widgets, which are informational displays that update themselves when new content is available.
In addition, Android includes features to help save battery power and a memory management system that suspends applications when they are not in use. Traditionally, more customization options have been offered with Android than with other mobile operating systems.
With every release, Google makes incremental changes to the Android OS. Typically, these updates fix bugs or add new features. A major update to the Android platform is referred to as a major version.
Unlike some other mobile operating systems, such as iOS or Windows, Android is free. This means that anyone can use it. However, there are a few aspects of the software that are not open source.
One of these is the Home Screen, which is the primary navigation hub on the device. The home screen is composed of app icons and widgets. If you would like to change the look of the home screen, you can install third-party apps on Google Play.