What is Ubuntu? Ubuntu Features, Advantages, and Disadvantages

Ubuntu is a free, open-source operating system built on top of Debian Linux and maintained by a UK company called Canonical. It comes in three main editions Desktop, Server, and Core and powers everything from personal laptops to a significant chunk of the world's cloud computing infrastructure. It's the most widely used Linux distribution for newcomers, and for good reason.

Quick facts:

• Type: Linux distribution (Debian-based)
• Maintainer: Canonical Ltd.
• Price: Free, always
• Editions: Desktop, Server, Core (for IoT)
• Default desktop: GNOME
• Release cycle: A new version every 6 months; an LTS every 2 years
• Best for: Beginners, developers, students, web servers, VPS hosting, cloud workloads

What Is Ubuntu?

Ubuntu is a Linux-based operating system that you can install on a laptop, desktop, server, or virtual machine. It's free to download, free to use, and free to share. The name comes from a Southern African philosophy that roughly translates to "humanity toward others" — which gives you a hint about the project's open-source ethos.

Ubuntu in simple terms

Think of it like this. Windows is one operating system made by Microsoft. macOS is one operating system made by Apple. Linux isn't a single operating system — it's a kernel (the core engine), and dozens of teams build different complete operating systems on top of it. Ubuntu is one of those complete operating systems. Probably the most well-known one.

You boot it up, you get a desktop with a taskbar and apps, you open a browser, you write code, you watch videos. From a user's perspective, it works the way you'd expect any modern operating system to work. The differences show up when you start poking around under the hood.

Is Ubuntu Linux or a separate operating system?

Both, kind of. Ubuntu is Linux — specifically, a "Linux distribution" or "distro." That means it bundles the Linux kernel with a desktop environment, system utilities, a package manager, and pre-installed software into one ready-to-use product. So when somebody asks "is Ubuntu Linux?" the honest answer is yes. When they ask "is Ubuntu the same as Linux?" the answer is no, because Linux is the broader family and Ubuntu is one member of it.

Who develops Ubuntu?

Canonical Ltd., founded by Mark Shuttleworth back in 2004, leads development. But Ubuntu isn't a one-company show. A huge global community contributes code, documentation, translations, bug reports, and the various community-maintained "flavors" we'll get into later. Canonical handles the commercial side — paid support, enterprise services, Ubuntu Pro — while keeping the core OS free.

The History of Ubuntu

Ubuntu was first introduced in October 2004 with version 4.10, codenamed "Warty Warthog." The project was initiated by Mark Shuttleworth, a South African entrepreneur who founded Canonical Ltd. to provide commercial support for the new operating system. Ubuntu was built on the architecture of Debian, one of the oldest and most respected Linux distributions, and aimed to make Linux accessible to everyday users.

From the start, Ubuntu followed a predictable six-month release cycle, with each version receiving a codename consisting of an adjective and an animal (both starting with the same letter). Every two years, Canonical designates a release as LTS (Long-Term Support), which receives five years of free security updates — and up to ten with an Ubuntu Pro subscription.

Version History

How Ubuntu Releases Work

Ubuntu has a predictable release schedule that's actually one of its strengths. New versions drop every six months — in April and October. The version number is just year.month, so 24.04 means April 2024.

What is an LTS release?

LTS stands for Long-Term Support. Every two years (so 20.04, 22.04, 24.04, and so on), Canonical releases an LTS version that gets five years of free security updates — and up to ten with an Ubuntu Pro subscription. Businesses love these because you can deploy once and not worry about a major upgrade for years.

What is an interim release?

Interim releases (24.10, 25.04, etc.) come out every six months and are supported for nine months. They get the newest features, the latest kernel, and the freshest packages — but you'll need to upgrade more often. Good for enthusiasts and developers who want the bleeding edge.

Which Ubuntu version should you install?

If you're not sure, install the latest LTS. Seriously. That's the answer for about 90% of users. It's stable, it's supported for years, and most documentation you'll find online targets LTS versions. Only pick an interim release if you have a specific reason — a new hardware driver, a feature you need, or you just enjoy living dangerously.

Latest Ubuntu Version

As of writing, the current LTS is Ubuntu 24.04 "Noble Numbat", released in April 2024 and supported through 2029 (or 2036 with Ubuntu Pro). The most recent interim release is Ubuntu 24.10 "Oracular Oriole". The next LTS, 26.04, is scheduled for April 2026.

Version 24.10 offers several improvements and new features over previous releases:

• Sleek and Modern: The newest GNOME desktop interface is fast, modern, and user-friendly.
• Improved Security: This edition includes a new Security Center app for managing system security settings.
• Improved Power Management: Ensures compatibility with modern devices, working particularly well with AMD systems.
• Smoother Graphics: Better graphic performance overall — Wayland is now the default display server for NVIDIA users.
• Easier Software Installation: The App Center is improved to support third-party apps better than earlier versions.
• Developer-Friendly: Updated toolchains including GCC, LLVM, Rust, and Go for developers.
• Simplified Deployment: An easier installation process for businesses and IT teams.

To find out which version you're running, open a terminal and type:

lsb_release -a

Or for the short version:

cat /etc/os-release

What Is Ubuntu Used For?

This is where Ubuntu's range really shows. The same OS that runs on a refurbished ThinkPad in a student's dorm also runs production workloads on AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. Here's where you'll find it.

Desktop computing

Everyday tasks — browsing, email, office work, media playback, video calls. Ubuntu Desktop ships with Firefox, LibreOffice, Thunderbird, and a built-in app store. For most people, you can install it and start working within an hour. Regular users can surf the web, consume multimedia, and handle office work with apps like LibreOffice and VLC Media Player.

Web development and programming

This is where Ubuntu shines. Python, Node.js, Go, Rust, PHP, Ruby, Java — they all run natively without weird workarounds. Git, Docker, and most CLI tools are a single command away. Ubuntu is compatible with technologies like Node.js, Docker, and the LAMP stack, making it popular among web developers. If you want to install Docker on Ubuntu, the process is almost embarrassingly simple. It's also an excellent environment for learning skills like server management, network security, and coding applications.

Servers and VPS hosting

Ubuntu Server is one of the most common operating systems for web hosting. Apache, Nginx, MySQL, PostgreSQL — all of it runs cleanly. It supports major databases such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB. If you're spinning up a Linux VPS or specifically an Ubuntu VPS, you're picking the same OS that powers a sizable share of the public web.

Cloud, containers, and DevOps

Ubuntu is the default base image for tons of Docker containers. It's also a first-class citizen on AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, and Canonical maintains official images for all the big cloud providers. Kubernetes, OpenStack, Terraform — the whole modern stack feels at home here. Ubuntu Server is designed specifically for virtualization and containerization.

Education and learning Linux

If you want to learn how Linux works, Ubuntu is the gentlest on-ramp. The community is enormous, the documentation is plentiful, and the answers to "why isn't this working?" are usually a quick search away. Universities use it. Bootcamps use it. Anyone who's serious about backend, DevOps, or systems work eventually ends up here.

Other use cases

Beyond the main categories above, Ubuntu is also widely used for AI and machine learning (supporting frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch), research and scientific computing, cybersecurity and penetration testing, embedded systems and IoT, multimedia and content creation, gaming, home automation, and partition management and data migration.

Ubuntu vs Linux: What's the Difference?

This trips up a lot of newcomers, so let's nail it down.

Linux is the kernel — the low-level software that talks to your hardware. By itself, Linux doesn't give you a desktop, apps, or anything you can actually click on. It's like an engine without a car around it.

Ubuntu is the full car. It takes the Linux kernel, adds a desktop environment (GNOME), bundles a package manager (APT), throws in default apps, and ships the whole package as one installable operating system.

Other distros do the same thing differently — all Linux, all completely valid, just different choices about what to include and how to set things up. If you're curious about how Ubuntu stacks up against its closest siblings, check our comparisons like CentOS vs Ubuntu and AlmaLinux vs Ubuntu.

Ubuntu Desktop vs Ubuntu Server

Same Ubuntu under the hood. Very different out-of-the-box experiences.

When to use Ubuntu Desktop

Pick Desktop if you want a normal computer experience. You're browsing, coding, watching, writing. You want to click things.

When to use Ubuntu Server

Pick Server if you're running a website, an API, a database, a Docker host, or anything that doesn't need a screen. It boots faster, uses less RAM, and exposes fewer attack surfaces. This is also what most VPS providers install by default.

Key Features of Ubuntu

Free and open source

You don't pay a license fee. Ever. You can install it on as many machines as you want, modify the source code, redistribute it — whatever. This is a huge deal for businesses watching their margins and for hobbyists who don't want to spend on a Windows license. There are no bothersome advertisements either. You can download and install it with a single click from the Canonical website.

GNOME desktop and usability

Ubuntu's default desktop is GNOME, tweaked with Canonical's signature dock and theme. It's clean, modern, and gets out of your way. If you've used a Mac, you'll find the layout familiar — sort of. If you prefer something else, you can install KDE, XFCE, or any other desktop environment and switch between them at the login screen. It comes with a strong desktop integration, including various types of files such as audio, video, and photo lenses.

Begin by pressing Activities on the Ubuntu desktop's upper-left corner. When you do, the screen dims, and a new set of controls appears:

• Windows and tabs get arranged conveniently in the middle of the screen to display what's active — choose what you want or close anything you're done with.
• You can change workspaces from the options available on the right side. You can move between numerous virtual desktops in Ubuntu and Linux in general at any moment, giving you additional screen space.
• A search bar at the top of the page searches the available applications, files, and apps for download.

Security features

Ubuntu inherits Linux's strong permission model — regular users can't break the system without explicit admin access (via sudo). On top of that:

• UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) ships pre-installed and controls ports and system programs.
• AppArmor sandboxes risky apps and limits what they can touch.
• Security updates are pushed regularly through the standard update channel, ensuring your firewalls are consistently updated and protected automatically.
• Snap packages run in their own confined environments.

It's not magically immune to attack — nothing is. But the threat surface is genuinely smaller than what you'd face on a default Windows install.

Software management with APT and Snap

Installing software is one of the things Ubuntu does really well. APT is the traditional package manager — it pulls from official repositories with a single command. Snap is Canonical's newer system that bundles dependencies inside each package, making cross-distro distribution easier (and a little chunkier). The App Center gives you a graphical interface that combines both.

Performance and hardware support

Ubuntu runs on x86_64, ARM, and even RISC-V. It works on modern laptops, old desktops, Raspberry Pis, and cloud instances. NVIDIA driver support has improved dramatically in the last few releases — what used to be a configuration nightmare is now mostly a checkbox at install time. On most contemporary PCs, it loads in under a minute. If you are running multiple apps at the same time, resource management allows you to operate on your system without experiencing any slowdown.

Ubuntu Flavors

Ubuntu has many flavors, which are official variants that use the same core but ship with a different desktop environment or focus. Same updates, same package pool, different look and feel. Each flavor maintains Ubuntu's essential stability while offering various functions and desktop environments. The most popular Ubuntu flavors are:

Which flavor should you choose?

For most people, regular Ubuntu (GNOME) is the right answer. If your machine has 4 GB of RAM or less, go with Xubuntu or Lubuntu. If you love tinkering with every visual element, Kubuntu's a great choice. If you do music production or video editing, Ubuntu Studio saves you days of setup. For more options outside the official family, see our roundup of Ubuntu-based Linux distros.

Ubuntu 32-bit or 64-bit; which one to choose?

For all the latest versions of Ubuntu, you will only have 64-bit support. For 32-bit Ubuntu, you need to go for older versions. In general, if your system supports 64-bit and you have more than 2 GB of RAM, go for the 64-bit version. If your system supports 32-bit or less, choose a lightweight flavor like Lubuntu or Xubuntu that still supports older architecture.

If you have installed Linux on your system, you can get information about whether your operating system is 64-bit or 32-bit by typing the following command:

lscpu

Advantages of Ubuntu

Cost and licensing

Free. Forever. For one machine or a thousand. That alone makes it attractive for startups, schools, and anyone tired of subscription fatigue. You can download and install it with a single click from the Canonical website. There are no bothersome advertisements — unlike some free products, you will not be forced to view commercials in order to enjoy its functions.

Open source with global support

Thanks to its open-source nature, the Ubuntu Linux operating system has a very active and supportive community of developers and programmers. If you have any problems using Ubuntu or if any bugs arise, the programmer community will quickly fix them. Without exaggeration, the Ubuntu distribution has the most support from the programmer community when compared to other Linux distros. Ask Ubuntu, the official forums, the wiki, the man pages, the thousands of Stack Overflow threads — chances are someone already hit your problem and posted a fix.

Security and stability

LTS releases get five years of security patches. Combined with Linux's permission model, UFW, and AppArmor, you've got a system that holds up well against everyday threats. Ubuntu is less vulnerable to malware than Windows. The built-in firewall provides strong protection against malware and unauthorized intrusions. It's not invincible — no OS is — but it's notably harder to compromise through casual mistakes.

Developer-friendly environment

The tooling is right there. apt install git, apt install python3, apt install docker.io — done. No installers, no reboots, no weird PATH issues. If you spend your day in a terminal, Ubuntu just feels right. It has pre-installed popular development tools like Python, GCC, and Git. It's also ideal for AI development because it supports frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch. For practical guides, check out installing Git on Ubuntu or managing users on Ubuntu.

Efficiency and speed

There is no news of the vague and incomprehensible Linux environment in the Ubuntu desktop version. Even if you have never used Linux before, Ubuntu will welcome you with its friendly and simple environment. Ubuntu is fast and efficient because it has a simple environment in which you can easily manage files and remove or install the programs you want.

Works well on servers and cloud platforms

Every major cloud provider supports Ubuntu officially. Most Docker base images use it. Most tutorials assume it. If you're going to deploy something somewhere, Ubuntu probably runs there. It is dependable and has long-term support in addition to many other features, making it a great choice for business purposes.

Disadvantages of Ubuntu

Software compatibility limits

Adobe Creative Cloud doesn't run on Ubuntu. Microsoft Office runs only through the web version or workarounds. Some industry-specific software (CAD, certain accounting tools) is Windows-only. If your workflow depends on those, Ubuntu will frustrate you. Some software and games can only be run on operating systems like Windows or macOS, so before running any software, make sure Ubuntu can support it.

Gaming and proprietary apps

Gaming has improved enormously thanks to Steam's Proton and Valve's work on the Steam Deck. A huge chunk of the Steam library now runs on Linux. But anti-cheat systems still block some competitive titles, and brand-new releases sometimes need a few weeks before they're playable.

Learning curve for new users

You can use Ubuntu without ever touching the terminal. But you'll occasionally hit a problem where the fastest solution is a command, and that intimidates people who've never seen a prompt before. Although Ubuntu's graphical user interface is more attractive compared to other Linux distros, you still need some basic familiarity with the command line interface. Most folks get over it in a week or two.

Hardware and driver issues in some cases

Bleeding-edge laptops sometimes ship with hardware that needs a driver update before everything works. Wi-Fi cards, fingerprint readers, and certain GPUs occasionally need extra setup. This is partly because some hardware vendors do not easily provide Linux drivers. The situation has gotten dramatically better, but it's not perfectly painless yet. As long as you run Ubuntu on common, well-supported hardware, you will not face major issues.

Summary Table: Advantages vs Disadvantages

Ubuntu vs Windows

Which one is better for you?

If you're a developer, sysadmin, student, or anyone who values privacy and control, Ubuntu wins on most counts. If you live in Photoshop, Premiere, or competitive multiplayer games, Windows is still the practical choice. For everyday productivity, both work fine — pick based on the apps you actually use.

Ubuntu System Requirements

Can Ubuntu run on older computers?

Absolutely. That's where the lightweight flavors come in. Lubuntu and Xubuntu happily run on 2 GB of RAM and a 10-year-old CPU. An old netbook that Windows had given up on can be revived with Lubuntu as a dedicated media machine.

How to Install Ubuntu

Installation has gotten almost laughably simple. Here's the short version, tested on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. For a deeper walkthrough, see our guide on how to install Ubuntu.

Step 1: Download the ISO

Head to ubuntu.com/download and grab the Desktop or Server ISO. The Desktop file is about 5 GB. An ISO file containing the Ubuntu operating system will be downloaded by selecting your preferred edition.

Step 2: Create a bootable USB

You'll need an 8 GB or larger USB stick. Use balenaEtcher (free, works on Windows/Mac/Linux). Open it, select the ISO, pick your USB, click Flash. About 5 minutes. The software is open-source and free to download. Because the creation process will format your USB drive, make a backup or duplicate of any data before proceeding.

Step 3: Boot from USB

Plug the USB into the target machine. Restart, mash F2/F12/Del (depends on your BIOS) to get into the boot menu, and pick the USB drive. This means that you'll need to prioritize the Ubuntu USB drive at boot across all platforms. On Mac, press the Option/Alt key when the computer starts up to access Startup Manager.

Step 4: Try or install

You'll see a screen asking whether to "Try Ubuntu" or "Install Ubuntu." Try first if you're nervous — it runs entirely from the USB without touching your hard drive. Once you're sure, click the Install icon.

Step 5: Follow the installer

The installer walks you through language, keyboard, Wi-Fi, disk setup, and user account. Most people pick "Install Ubuntu alongside Windows" for dual boot, or "Erase disk and install Ubuntu" for a full switch. Back up your data first. Too many "oops" moments happen here. You'll be prompted to restart your computer after the installation is complete. After that, boot into your fresh Ubuntu installation and enjoy the benefits of Linux.

How to Install Apps on Ubuntu

Using App Center

The simplest method. Click the orange shopping-bag icon, search for an app (Spotify, VS Code, GIMP, whatever), click Install. Done.

Using APT

For terminal lovers. To install something:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install package-name

Replace package-name with whatever you want — vlc, htop, git, nginx, and so on.

Using Snap packages

Snap apps are self-contained and update themselves automatically:

sudo snap install discord

Each method has trade-offs. APT is fast and lean. Snap apps are easier to keep updated but use more disk space. Pick whatever feels right.

Basic Ubuntu Commands for Beginners

You don't have to use the terminal. But once you do, you'll never go back. Here's the starter set.

Update packages

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

First command refreshes the list of available updates. Second one actually installs them. Run weekly.

Install software

sudo apt install package-name

Remove software

sudo apt remove package-name

Or to remove a program along with its configuration files:

sudo apt purge package-name

Check disk space

df -h

The -h makes the output human-readable (GB instead of bytes).

Change permissions

chmod

View system info

lscpu
free -h
uname -a

These show your CPU, memory, and kernel info respectively.

Who Should Use Ubuntu?

Beginners

If you want to try Linux without pulling your hair out, Ubuntu is the place to start. The installer is friendly, the desktop is intuitive, and the community will help when you get stuck. It has helpful resources and a friendly community, making it the best option for users who are new to Linux.

Developers

Honestly, this is where Ubuntu makes the most sense. Native tooling, easy package management, identical environments between your laptop and the production server. Saves real time. If you intend to manage servers such as Apache and Nginx, as well as technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes, Ubuntu is an excellent choice.

Students

Free OS, free office suite, free dev tools. For a student on a budget — or one who needs to learn Linux for a course — it's hard to beat. MATLAB, Python, or Visual Studio are regular programs for school and university students. As a student, you can benefit from these programs for your projects with an Ubuntu system.

Businesses

LTS releases, professional support from Canonical, no licensing costs, and excellent server performance. Plenty of companies run their entire infrastructure on Ubuntu. Businesses, companies, and organizations need a secure, reliable, and stable system — Ubuntu delivers exactly that.

VPS and hosting users

Ubuntu Server is one of the most common operating systems on virtual private servers. If you're getting an Ubuntu VPS for hosting a site, a Node app, or a Docker stack, you're in well-trodden territory.

Who shouldn't use Ubuntu?

Honestly? People who depend on Adobe Creative Cloud, certain Windows-only games with kernel-level anti-cheat, or niche industry software (some CAD, accounting, or medical tools). For them, dual-booting or sticking with Windows makes more practical sense.

Conclusion

Ubuntu is a free, open-source operating system that has earned its place as the most popular Linux distribution for beginners and professionals alike. Derived from Debian, it offers a stable foundation with the flexibility to run on desktops, servers, cloud platforms, and IoT devices. Its predictable LTS release cycle, strong security features, and massive global community make it a dependable choice for personal use, development, education, and enterprise deployment.

Whether you are a regular user looking for a reliable desktop, a student learning to code, a developer building the next big application, or a business running critical infrastructure, Ubuntu has the tools and support you need. If you're ready to get started, a Linux VPS or an Ubuntu VPS is the ideal environment to put your skills into practice — and for production workloads, an Ubuntu VPS server or dedicated server gives you the performance and control your projects deserve.

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