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Xorg, also known as X11 or X Window System, is a widely used display server protocol that provides a graphical environment for Unix-like operating systems. It enables the creation and management of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and facilitates communication between the operating system, applications, and the display hardware.

The X Window System was initially developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the 1980s and has since become the de facto standard for GUIs in Unix-like systems. Xorg is the most popular implementation of this system and is widely used in Linux distributions and other Unix-like operating systems.

At its core, Xorg consists of two main components: the X server and the client applications. The X server is responsible for managing the display hardware and handling input events such as keyboard and mouse actions. It communicates with the underlying graphics driver to render graphics on the screen.

Client applications, on the other hand, are the programs that utilize the X server to create and display GUIs. They communicate with the X server over a network or locally to request the creation of windows, drawing of graphics, handling input events, and managing other visual elements. The X server acts as a mediator between the clients and the display hardware, allowing multiple applications to run concurrently and share the screen resources.

One of the key features of Xorg is its network transparency. It means that Xorg allows applications to run on one machine and display their graphical output on another machine connected to the network. This feature enables remote GUI access, where a user can run applications on a powerful server while interacting with them from a less powerful client machine.

Furthermore, Xorg supports a wide range of window managers, which are responsible for the appearance and behavior of windows, desktops, and other visual elements. Window managers allow users to customize their desktop environment, switch between applications, and manage windows effectively.

In summary, Xorg is a display server protocol that provides a foundation for graphical environments in Unix-like operating systems. It allows the creation of GUIs, facilitates communication between applications and the display hardware, and supports features such as network transparency and customization through window managers.

Xorg Server - X Widnow System