##  [open source

 ](/en/tag/open-source) 

The web is built on collaborative technology, both free and open source, and the world is better for it.

> “Free software” means software that respects users' freedom and community. Roughly, it means that **the users have the freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software**. Thus, “free software” is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of “free” as in “free speech,” not as in “free beer”.
> 
> [GNU Free Software Definition](http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html)

The term *Open Source* is generally used to refers to something whose design is publicly accessible, and is modifiable by anyone.