# Canonical recap data for Linux Kernel First Released (1991)
# Source: https://recap.at/1991/linux-kernel-release
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: linux-kernel-release
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/1991/linux-kernel-release"
title: Linux Kernel First Released
subtitle: Linus Torvalds released the Linux kernel, seeding an open-source operating system that became foundational to modern computing.
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 1991-01-01
datePrecision: year
year: 1991
decade: 1990
country:
name: Finland
slug: finland
summaryShort: The Linux kernel is a free and open-source Unix-like kernel that is used in many computer systems worldwide. The kernel was created by Linus Torvalds in 1991 and was soon adopted as the kernel for the GNU operating system (OS), which was created to be a free replacement for Unix. Since the late 1990s, it has been inclu
summaryLong: The Linux kernel is a free and open-source Unix-like kernel that is used in many computer systems worldwide. The kernel was created by Linus Torvalds in 1991 and was soon adopted as the kernel for the GNU operating system (OS), which was created to be a free replacement for Unix. Since the late 1990s, it has been included in many operating system distributions, many of which are called Linux. One such Linux kernel operating system is Android, which is used in many mobile and embedded devices.
heroImageUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/Tux.svg/1280px-Tux.svg.png"
heroImageCredit: Wikipedia · "Linux kernel"
importance: 77
sourceConfidence: 75
keyFacts: []
timeline: []
sources:
- url: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_kernel"
  title: Linux kernel
  provider: Wikipedia
related: []
categories:
- tech-launch
metaDescription: The Linux kernel is a free and open-source Unix-like kernel that is used in many computer systems worldwide. The kernel was created by Linus Torvalds in 1991 an
wikidataQid: Q14579
archiveSnapshots:
- url: "https://web.archive.org/web/20260702083915/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_kernel"
  capturedAt: 2026-07-02
  label: Linux kernel
  originalUrl: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_kernel"
