LINUX is a Unix-like and mostly POSIX-compliant computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open-source software development and distribution. The defining component of Linux is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on 5 October 1991 by Linus Torvalds. The Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to describe the operating system.
Linux is the first truly free Unix-like operating system. The underlying GNU Project was launched in 1983 byRichard Stallman originally to develop a Unix-compatible operating system called GNU, intended to be entirely free software. Many programs and utilities were contributed by developers around the world, and by 1991 most of the components of the system were ready. Still missing was the kernel.
Linus Torvalds invented Linux itself in 1991. This kernel, which is called Linux, was afterwards combined with the GNU system to produce a complete free operating system.
Linux Kernel was bundled with many software's from various distributors and it gave rise to many flavors of LINUX.