Is “free software” the same as “open source”?

Yes. Free software and Open Source are similar terms since they define and guarantee a software developer’s liberty to use a source code freely within set conditions. These terms protect and promote the development of free software. Initially, the Foundation of Free Software (FSF) referred to this source code as free software. The founders of the Open Source Initiative later coined Open Source for this concept which gained traction. Many tech industry stakeholders use these terms interchangeably, although Open Source expresses a higher degree of freedom for software developers. Free software also refers to copyleft licenses online, while Open Source covers copyleft and permissive licenses.