Proprietary software facts for kids
Proprietary software is a type of computer software that keeps its secret instructions, called source code, hidden from most people. This means you can't see or change how the program works deep down. It's the opposite of free software, where the code is open for everyone to see and change.
Most of the time, big companies create proprietary software because they want to sell it. Even if a program is free to use, it can still be proprietary if you're not allowed to look at or change its code. With proprietary software, only the people who made it can truly understand and change its inner workings.
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What Makes Software Proprietary?
Even if the creators share some of the software's code, it's still considered proprietary if they don't let you do important things like these:
- Change the code yourself.
- Share the code with other people.
- Share your changed version of the code with others.
- Use the code on different types of computers without permission.
Why Companies Use Proprietary Software
Most companies that sell software, and even some that give it away for free, make it proprietary. This helps them protect their work. It makes it harder for people to copy the software without permission or to use parts of its code to create similar programs. It also helps prevent someone from pretending they created the software when they didn't. This is like when someone tries to take credit for another person's school project.
Related pages
- Freeware, which is software you can use for free, but you usually can't change its code.
See also
In Spanish: Software propietario para niños
