whatis wsl
WSL
Also known as: Windows Subsystem for Linux, WSL2
Windows Subsystem for Linux, which runs real Linux distributions inside a lightweight VM on Windows with tight integration.
What Is WSL in Linux?
WSL2 runs a genuine Linux kernel in a managed Hyper-V VM, so Linux tools, package managers, and even systemd and GUI apps work normally. Windows drives appear under /mnt/c, and you can launch Windows programs from the Linux shell.
It is a convenient way to use Linux tooling on a Windows machine, though file access across the Windows/Linux boundary is slower than native.
Example
wsl --install -d Ubuntu
wsl -l -vLearn more about WSL
- What Is WSL? Explained WSL lets Windows run a real Linux environment alongside it, without dual-booting or a traditional virtual machine. This guide covers what WSL actually is, WSL1 vs WSL2, installing a distribution, and what it is and is not a good fit for.