License File

Noun · Open Source

Definitions

  1. A file in a repository or distribution that states the software license terms under which the project is offered. In open-source culture, the presence and clarity of a license file is one of the most basic signals that a project is usable and trustworthy.

    In plain English: The file that states the license terms for a project.

    Example: "The maintainers added a proper license file after realizing that 'public on GitHub' did not automatically mean people had permission to use or redistribute the code."

Related Terms