Open-source software (OSS), translated asOpen Source Software, is computer software that is released under a license in which the copyright holder grants users the right to use, study, modify, and distribute the software and its source code to anyone for any purpose. Open-source software can be developed in a collaborative way.
Open-source software is a prominent example of open collaboration, which means that any capable user can participate in online development, so the number of possible contributors is indeterminate. The ability to examine code facilitates public trust in software.
A 2008 Standish Group report stated that the use of open source software models has resulted in approximately $60 billion in annual savings for consumers.
