What best describes software that is open-source?

Open-source software is defined by its accessibility and the permissions granted to users regarding its code. The correct description states that it is freely available for modification and redistribution. This means that anyone can use, inspect, enhance, and share the software with others. The open-source model promotes collaboration and community-driven development, allowing multiple developers to contribute to the improvement of the software.

This characteristic encourages innovation and ensures that users have the freedom to adapt the software to their specific needs without being hindered by licensing fees or restrictions that are common in proprietary software models. Furthermore, because the source code is available to anyone, issues in the software can be spotted and resolved faster, benefiting the user community as a whole. This openness is a fundamental tenet of the open-source philosophy and distinguishes it from proprietary options, which come with limitations on access and usage.