21 Jargon Every Linux User Should Know

If you didn’t know, a bootloader is a program that starts when you boot up the computer and loads the kernel to execute. You get to customize the order of it, and also customize the look of it to some extent.It boosts your productivity, and also makes your desktop experience prettier.It is not the same as desktop environment. In fact, a desktop environment includes a display server under-the-hood to make things possible.The technique of having two operating systems installed in a single computer is called dual booting.

1. Kernel

What are your favorites Linux jargon that you learned recently? Share it with us in the comments 😄You can learn more about grub in our jargon buster article.For instance, Ubuntu 24.10 will be supported for only nine months.

2. Distro

A point release is a minor update to a major version of the software. For instance, Linux Mint 22.1 is a point update to Linux Mint 22.Snap, Flatpak, and, AppImage are three different universal packaging formats for Linux software. Unlike DEB or RPM packages, you can use Snap/Flatpak/AppImage packages on any Linux distributions.It is used whenever you want to make a system modification, or want to simply access a system file. The user is asked to prove that they are the administrators of the computer by typing in the password whenever sudo is used in a command.End of Life (EOL) is a term used to point out the particular date/year after which a software will stop receiving any maintenance or security updates. In our context, it can be a Linux distribution. However, it is a term used for all kinds of software.

Best Linux Distributions For Everyone in 2025Looking for the best Linux distribution that suits everyone? Take a look at our comprehensive list.

3. Dual Booting

Every Linux distro has a different package manager. However, some package managers are predominantly found in most of the Linux distributions. For more information, you can check out our package manager explainer:When it comes to Linux, TTY is an abstract device in UNIX and Linux. Sometimes it refers to a physical input device such as a serial port, and sometimes it refers to a virtual TTY where it allows users to interact with the system (reference).Grub is the boot manager program (or bootloader) that lists the operating systems installed on your computer. You can find it on most popular Linux distributions, with some exceptions like Pop!_OS.

Don’t Believe These Dual Boot MythsDon’t listen to what you hear. I tell you the reality from my dual booting experience.

4. Grub

For instance, APT package manager for .deb files is terminal-focused. And, Synaptic is a GUI-based tool.You can customize the behavior and add more functionalities to it using GNOME shell extensions.And, non-LTS is the opposite of it, meaning, the software will get updates for a shorter duration (or limited time).

What is Grub in Linux? What is it Used for?If you ever used a desktop Linux system, you must have seen this screen. This is called the GRUB screen. Learn what is GRUB in Linux and what is it used for?

5. Desktop Environment

On the contrary, a rolling release does not increment in any similar form. It just gets updates, small or big, with every new push by the developer team after its initial big release. For instance, Arch Linux is one of the best rolling release distros.Considering you already know what a distro is, an immutable distro is just a type of distro where you cannot modify the core of the operating system (in other words, it is read-only). So, if someone says press the super key, it is just the Windows key on most keyboards. In some rare instance, the keyboard button could have a Linux icon over a Windows one.

8 Best Desktop Environments For LinuxA list of the best Linux Desktop Environments with their pros and cons. Have a look and see which desktop environment you should use.

Get more insights on this on our article here:

6. Display server

And, Linux is just a kernel. We have an article that explains what Linux is for more details.Every operating system is built on top of a kernel, like the Windows NT kernel for Windows, and the XNU kernel for Apple’s macOS.You can decide to use either of them, whether you have two Linux distros or one Linux and Windows operating system.

Linux Jargon Buster: What is a Display Server in Linux? What is it Used for?In Linux related articles, news and discussions, you’ll often come across the term display server, Xorg, Wayland etc. In this explainer article, I’ll discuss display servers in Linux. What is display server in Linux? A display server is a program which is responsible for the input and output

7. Display Manager

This makes it a safer experience, and a more reliable one. Immutable distros have gained popularity recently, and you can find plenty of immutable distros to try the concept for yourself.Suggested Read 📖

Linux Jargon Buster: What is Display Manager in Linux?In this chapter of the Linux Jargon Buster, you’ll learn about display manager in Linux. Is it part of the desktop environment? What does it do?

8. GNOME Shell

In terms of Linux software lingo, upstream is often referred to an original project from which the current software is based on. It can be a kernel, or a distro, or an app in our context. And, the downstream is the one that takes things from the upstream.Suggested Read 📖

9. Terminal Emulator

Suggested Read 📖It includes elements like icons, toolbar, wallpaper, widgets, and more.You might have heard about X11, and Wayland sessions, those are the types of display servers available. Explore more here:

10. Sudo

Display server is the core tech of what enables you to see and have a graphical user interface (GUI). Without it, you will not have a GUI to interact with.Tiling Window Manager is a program that lets you organize your windows in a tile layout. It is a mighty utility to make the best use of your screen space while keeping things organized.It can be confusing to choose a distro based on what’s available. So, I recommend going through the list of the best Linux distributions for all kinds of users.

11. Package Manager

For instance, the End of Life for Ubuntu 24.04 LTS is April 2029. The End of Life differs based on the release cycle of the distribution, which I shall mention in the next point.My favorite desktop environments include GNOME and KDE Plasma.The Windows key that you normally know and love is the super key for Linux. It acts as the command button (like macOS) with which you can perform a range of keyboard shortcuts.

What is a Package Manager in Linux?Learn about packaging system and package managers in Linux. You’ll learn how do they work and what kind of package managers available.

12. End of Life

So, for the majority of users who never used Linux, the terms associated will sound alien to them.The display manager is a program that gives login capabilities to the user in a desktop environment.A distro (short for distribution) is a complete operating system package built on top of a Linux kernel.

What is End of Life in Ubuntu? Everything You Should Know About itLearn what is end of life of an Ubuntu release, how it impacts you, how to check support status and what you should do if your system reaches end of life.

13. Long-Term Support (LTS) and Non-LTS Release

A distro (short for distribution) is a complete operating system package built on top of a Linux kernel.

Flatpak vs. Snap: 10 Differences You Should KnowFlatpak vs Snap, know the differences and gain insights as a Linux user to pick the best.

16. Tiling Window Manager

A distro (short for distribution) is a complete operating system package built on top of a Linux kernel.

Explained: What is a Tiling Window Manager in Linux?Learn what a tiling window manager is, and the benefits that come along with it.

17. Upstream and Downstream

If you are considering doing it, you must know about the dual booting myths before proceeding.It helps to know the common technical terms, specially if you are in discussion on online forums. You can get a detailed explanation of what a desktop environment is in our article and explore all the available desktop environments here:

Linux Jargon Buster: What are Upstream and Downstream?The terms: upstream and downstream are rather ambiguous terms and, I think, not really used by the general public. If you are a Linux user and do not write or maintain software, chances are pretty good that these terms will mean nothing to you, but they can be instructive in

18. Daemon

Some of the examples of a distro include Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch Linux, and Linux Mint. Furthermore, there are distros that are based on other existing distros. For instance, Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu, and Ubuntu is based on Debian.There can be 100s of Linux distros. Each of them can differ in terms of its desktop environment, package manager, software pre-installed, user interface, Linux kernel version, and its use-cases. The combination of such system components that you like should be your preferred Linux distro.

What are Daemons in Linux? Why are They Used?You’ll often come across the term daemon while using Linux. Don’t be scared. Learn what are daemons in Linux & why they are used in UNIX-like operating systems.

19. TTY

The terminal emulator is a text-based program that lets you type in commands for the computer to process. Some may even prefer to all it the command-line interface (just like the command prompt in Windows).

What is TTY in Linux?Sooner or later, you’ll come across the term tty while using Linux. Learn what it is and what is its significance.

20. Immutable Distro

Technically, they have certain differences among each other, but they serve a similar aim, to make things cross-distribution friendly and remove the hassle of dependencies.For instance, the Linux kernel releases are upstream, and the distro developers customizing it and using it will be termed as downstream.

12 Future-Proof Immutable Linux DistributionsImmutability is a concept in trend. Take a look at what are the options you have for an immutable Linux distribution.

21. Super Key

By default, every Linux distribution offers a terminal emulator with a set of capabilities. However, you can choose to install a separate one to get more functionalities or a different look/feel.You can explore our list of available Linux terminal emulators to try out some cool options.

What is the Super Key in Ubuntu Linux?Get familiar with the super (or is it meta) key in Linux in this chapter of the Jargon Buster series.

Conclusion

A release cycle is the period when you can expect a software to get a new upgrade while marking the end of life of the current version.A daemon is a utility program that runs in the background to make sure certain services are running and monitored. For instance, the system update daemon makes sure to check for updates at a regular interval of time.You do not usually come across Linux-specific jargon in standard high school academic computer books, unless there is a dedicated chapter for Linux.