Canonical Ltd. is a private software company based in the United Kingdom, best known for developing the popular open-source operating system, Ubuntu. Founded in 2004 by Mark Shuttleworth, Canonical aims to provide a user-friendly experience for both individuals and businesses through its software solutions. The company plays a significant role in the Linux community, offering support and services for Ubuntu and other related projects. Canonical also focuses on cloud computing, IoT, and container technologies, helping organizations leverage open-source software for their infrastructure and applications.