GPL (GNU General Public License) is a widely used free software license that guarantees users the freedom to run, study, modify, and distribute software. Created by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project, the GPL is designed to protect the rights of software users by ensuring that all derivative works are also free and open-source. This means that any software licensed under the GPL, and any modifications or extensions of that software, must be released under the same license if distributed. The GPL has been instrumental in the development and spread of open-source software, encouraging collaboration and ensuring that software remains accessible to everyone. There are different versions of the GPL, with GPLv2 and GPLv3 being the most common.
