GNU Lesser General Public License

free software license scheme based on GPL that allows a piece of software to be used in proprietary software

Key facts

Published: 1991 ; 35 years ago ( 1991 )
Spdx identifier: LGPL-3.0-or-later, LGPL-3.0-only, LGPL-2.1-or-later, LGPL-2.1-only, LGPL-2.0-or-later, LGPL-2.0-only
Debian fsg compatible: Yes
Fsf approved: Yes
Osi approved: Yes
Gpl compatible: Yes
Copyleft: Yes ( library or dynamic linking-based )
Linking from code with a different licen: Yes
Website: www .gnu .org /licenses /lgpl .html

via Wikipedia infobox

Article

The GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL) is a free-software license published by the Free Software Foundation (FSF). The license allows developers and companies to use and integrate a software component released under the LGPL into their own (even proprietary) software without being required by the terms of a strong copyleft license to release the source code of their own components. However, any developer who modifies an LGPL-covered component is required to make their modified version available under the same LGPL license. For proprietary software, code under the LGPL is usually used in the form of a shared library, so that there is a clear separation between the proprietary and LGPL components. The LGPL is primarily used for software libraries, although it is also used by some stand-alone applications.

The LGPL was developed as a compromise between the strong copyleft of the GNU General Public License (GPL) and more permissive licenses such as the BSD licenses and the MIT License. The word "Lesser" in the title shows that the LGPL does not guarantee the end user's complete freedom in the use of software; it only guarantees the freedom of modification for components licensed under the LGPL, but not for any proprietary components.