Free software refers to computer programs that users can freely use, modify, and distribute. This concept emphasizes the freedom of users rather than the price of the software. The term is often associated with the Free Software Foundation, which promotes the idea that software should be accessible to everyone. The key principles of free software include the ability to run the program for any purpose, access to the source code, and the right to share and improve the software. Popular examples of free software include the Linux operating system and the GNU utilities, which are widely used in various computing environments.