Android is a comprehensive open source platform designed for mobile devices. It is championed by Google and owned by Open Handset Alliance. The goal of the alliance is to “accelerate innovation in mobile and offer consumers a richer, less expensive, and better mobile experience.”

Android is a comprehensive platform, which means it is a complete software stack for a mobile device. For developers, Android provides all the tools and frameworks for developing mobile apps quickly and easily. The Android SDK is all you need to start developing for Android, you don’t even need a physical phone.

For users, Android just works right out of the box. Additionally, users can customize their phone experience substantially. For manufacturers, it is the complete solution for running their devices. Other than
some hardware-specific drivers, Android provides everything else to make their devices
work.