Android is an open-source software platform and operating system based on a modified version of the Linux kernel. It was developed by Android Inc. which was purchased by Google in 2005. Android is used in mobile devices like smartphones and tablets and allows developers to write applications for the operating system using Java. It supports connectivity through cellular data networks as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Some key features of Android include a customizable interface, access to millions of third-party apps, and support for various media formats.