LGPLcovered

LGPLcovered is a term used to describe software or code that is licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL). The LGPL is a copyleft license designed for libraries, intended to permit wide reuse while ensuring that improvements to the library remain available under the same terms.

LGPL-covered components can be used by proprietary applications, provided the terms are respected. Typically, this means the library remains separable from the application, and users may replace the library with a modified version. If you modify the LGPL-covered code itself, you must release the modified library’s source under the LGPL and provide appropriate notices. When distributing software that links to LGPL-covered libraries, you generally must include the LGPL license text and notices and provide a means for users to relink with a different version of the library. Dynamic linking is commonly used to keep the library’s terms from applying to the entire program, though static linking may impose additional obligations.

The LGPL exists in two main versions, 2.1 and 3. Version 3 is designed to be more compatible with GPLv3 and to address contemporary software practices, while maintaining the library-centric copyleft intent: the library code remains LGPL, while the including application may remain proprietary if it merely links to the library.

This concept is central to how many open-source projects balance freedom and practical reuse. See also GNU Lesser General Public License, copyleft, Free Software Foundation.