What is Ubuntu? The ins and outs of one of the most popular Linux distros
You've probably heard of Linux even if you haven't used it, and while it is often talked about as an alternative to Windows, Linux isn't just one thing. There are lots of different implementations of Linux, and one of the most popular is Ubuntu, which advertises itself as the Linux operating system for data centers, enterprise PCs, regular desktops and laptops, and more. Here's everything you need to know about Ubuntu.
One of the somewhat confusing things about Linux is that it's often pitched as Windows's primary rival, but strictly speaking there isn't some Linux OS you install on your computer. Instead, there are lots of implementations of Linux called distributions or distros, and these distros are how you access the Linux software ecosystem. Ubuntu is a Linux distro, but it isn't Linux itself.
Linux on its own is merely a kernel that can provide the underlying basis of an operating system. Technically you could just run the kernel, but as a user there wouldn't be anything to interface with: no windows, no taskbar, nothing. Ubuntu and other distros exist on top of the Linux kernel and provide that user interface and everything else that makes an OS an OS.