What is Linux? Is it form of an animal?
No worries — Linux is not an animal 🙂
But the confusion is understandable because the Linux mascot is Tux, a cute penguin often associated with it.
Linux is a family of operating systems based on the Linux kernel. It’s similar in role to Windows or macOS, but it's:
Open-source — anyone can inspect or modify the code
Free to use
Extremely flexible — used in servers, desktops, phones, smart devices, and even spacecraft
Highly stable and secure
Common Linux distributions include Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, Arch Linux, and many others.
The penguin (Tux) is just a mascot chosen by Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux. It's playful branding — nothing more.
If you'd like, I can also explain how Linux works, what it’s used for, or how it compares to Windows or macOS.
Yes — Tux is an animal, but only as a cartoon character.
Tux represents a penguin, specifically a cute, chubby one designed as the official mascot of Linux. He isn't a real species — just a stylized drawing — but he’s based on real penguins and chosen simply because Linus Torvalds liked penguins.
So:
Linux → operating system
Tux → cartoon penguin mascot for Linux
If you want, I can tell you why a penguin was chosen or how the design came about.