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Ubuntu releases

Release cadence

Ubuntu follows a strict time-based release cycle. Every six months since 2004, Canonical publishes a new Ubuntu version and its set of packages are declared stable (production-quality). Simultaneously, a new version begins development; it is given its own Code name, but also referred to as the “Current Release in Development” or “Devel”.

LTS releases

Since 2006, every fourth release, made every two years in April, receives Long Term Support (LTS) for large-scale deployments. This is the origin of the term “LTS” for stable, maintained releases.

An estimated 95% of all Ubuntu installations are LTS releases.

Note

Because of the strict time-based six months release cycle, you will only see LTS releases in even-numbered years (e.g. 18, 20, 22) in April (04). The only exception to this rule was Ubuntu 6.06 LTS (Dapper Drake).

Point releases

To ensure that a fresh install of an LTS release will work on newer hardware and not require a big download of additional updates, Canonical publishes point releases that include all the updates made so far.

The first point release of an LTS is published three months after the initial release and repeated every six months at least until the next LTS is published. In practice, Canonical may publish even more point releases for an LTS series, depending on the popularity of that LTS series.

For example, the Ubuntu 16.04.7 LTS (Xenial Xerus) point release was published more than four years after the initial release of Ubuntu 16.04 LTS.

Interim releases

In the years between LTS releases, Canonical also produces interim releases, sometimes also called “regular releases”.

Many developers use interim releases because they provide newer compilers or access to newer Kernels and newer libraries, and they are often used inside rapid DevOps processes like CI/CD pipelines where the lifespan of an artefact is likely to be shorter than the support period of the interim release.

Why does Ubuntu use time-based releases?

Ubuntu releases represent an aggregation of the work of thousands of independent software projects. The time-based release process provides users with the best balance of the latest software, tight integration, and excellent overall quality.

Ubuntu version format

YY.MM[.POINT-RELEASE] [LTS]

Ubuntu version identifier as used for Ubuntu releases consist of four components, which are:

YY

The 2-digit year number of the initial release.

MM

The 2-digit month number of the initial release.

Note

Because of the strict time-based six months release cycle, you will usually only see releases in April (04) and October (10).

POINT-RELEASE

The point release number starts at 1 and increments with every additional point release.

This component is omitted for the initial release, in which case zero is assumed.

LTS

Any Ubuntu release that receives long term support will be marked with LTS (see the release lifespan section for more information).

Any Ubuntu release that does not receive long term support omits this component.

Examples

Version Identifier

Release Date

Support

End of Standard Support

End of Life

22.04 LTS

21 April 2022

Long term

April 2027

April 2032

22.04.1 LTS

11 August 2022

Long term

April 2027

April 2032

22.10

22 October 2022

Regular

July 2023

July 2023

22.04.2 LTS

13 February 2023

Long term

April 2027

April 2032

23.04

20 April 2022

Regular

January 2024

January 2024

Release lifespan

Every Ubuntu Series receives the same production-grade support quality, but the length of time for which an Ubuntu series receives support varies.

Regular support

Interim releases are production-quality releases and are supported for nine months, with sufficient time provided for users to update, but these releases do not receive the long-term commitment of LTS releases.

Long Term Support (LTS)

LTS releases receive five years of standard security maintenance for all packages in the Main Component. With an Ubuntu Pro subscription, you get access to Expanded Security Maintenance (ESM), covering security fixes for packages in the Universe Component. ESM also extends the lifetime of an LTS series from five years to ten years.

Editions

Every Ubuntu release is provided as both a Server and Desktop edition.

Ubuntu Desktop provides a graphical User Interface (GUI) for everyday computing tasks, making it suitable for personal computers and laptops. Ubuntu Server, on the other hand, provides a text-based User Interface (TUI) instead of a GUI, optimised for server environments, that allows machines on the server to be run headless, focusing on server-related services and applications, making it ideal for hosting web services, databases, and other server functions.

Additionally, each release of Ubuntu is available in minimal configurations, which have the fewest possible packages installed: available in the installer for Ubuntu Server, Ubuntu Desktop, and as separate cloud images.

Canonical publishes Ubuntu on all major public clouds, and the latest image for each LTS version will always include any security update provided since the LTS release date, until two weeks prior to the image creation date.

Ubuntu flavours

Ubuntu flavours are Distributions of the default Ubuntu releases, which choose their own default applications and settings. Ubuntu flavours are owned and developed by members of the Ubuntu community and backed by the full Ubuntu Archive for packages and updates.

Officially recognised flavours are:

In addition to the officially recognised flavours, dozens of other Linux distributions take Ubuntu as a base for their own distinctive ideas and approaches.

Resources