What is open source code?

Open source code refers to software for which the source code is made available to the public. This means that anyone can view, use, modify, and distribute the code. The essence of open source lies in its transparency and collaborative nature, allowing developers and users to contribute to the improvement and evolution of the software. This collaborative environment fosters innovation and can lead to rapid advancements, as anyone can contribute insights and fixes.

The concept of open source contrasts with proprietary software, where the source code is owned by an individual or company and is not made available for public use or modification. Encrypted software code refers to code that has been obscured for security purposes, preventing easy access and modification, which is contrary to the ethos of open source. Lastly, while open source code can be written in multiple programming languages, being multilingual is not a defining characteristic of open source itself; rather, it's the public accessibility of the code that is key to its definition.