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linux/docs/display-protocols/x11.md
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x11

x11 (also known as the X Window System) is a display protocol and windowing system that provides the graphical interface layer for Unix-like operating systems, including Linux. Its been the foundation of Linux GUIs for decades, though it s now being gradually replaced by Wayland.

🧩 Core Concepts of X11

  • ClientServer Architecture:
    • The X server handles input/output devices (keyboard, mouse, display).
    • X clients are applications that request graphical output and user input.
  • Network Transparency:
    • X11 allows applications to run on one machine and display on another over a network — a key feature for remote GUI sessions.
  • Protocol Version:
    • The current version is X11, released in 1987.
    • Thats why its often called “X11” even though the system itself is just “X.”
  • Modularity:
    • X11 doesnt dictate window decorations or behavior — thats handled by window managers like KWin, i3, or Openbox.
    • It also doesnt include a desktop environment — DEs like GNOME or KDE build on top of X11.