Android was founded in 2003 to create a smarter mobile OS. It was acquired by Google in 2005 and released publicly in 2008. Based on the Linux kernel, Android is an open source platform that powers many smartphone models. It utilizes Java and XML for app development and supports a wide range of media formats, connectivity options, and device form factors. Android has experienced tremendous growth in the mobile market and continues to be the world's most popular operating system for smartphones and tablets.