What does open-source software mean?

Open-source software refers to software that has its source code made publicly available for anyone to view, use, modify, and distribute. This transparency fosters collaboration, innovation, and community-driven improvements, allowing developers and users to adapt the software to their specific needs.

While open-source software is often free to use, being open source specifically relates to the accessibility of its source code, rather than its cost. Therefore, the correct answer highlights the fundamental characteristic of open-source software, which is its availability for public access and modification. This distinguishes it from proprietary software, which keeps its source code secret and limits access and modification rights to the owner or vendor only.