Moodle

Moodle is an open-source learning management system (LMS) designed to help educators create and manage online courses and learning experiences. The name stands for Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment. Moodle was created by Martin Dougiamas and released in 2002 under the GNU General Public License. It is maintained by a global community and distributed by Moodle Pty Ltd.

Moodle runs on a web server and is primarily written in PHP with a database backend (such as MySQL or PostgreSQL). It is commonly deployed on Linux-based stacks but is platform-agnostic and can run on Windows as well. The platform provides a modular architecture that supports a wide range of activities and resources including forums, quizzes, assignments, lessons, wikis, databases, and file resources. It includes course management features such as enrollment options, grading, calendars, and attendance, as well as role-based permissions, groups, and messaging.

The plugin system allows extensions for additional activities, authentication methods, reporting, and integrations with external systems. Moodle supports standards such as SCORM and Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI), and offers mobile access through responsive design and official mobile apps. It has multilingual support and extensive documentation.

Moodle has a global ecosystem with thousands of institutions using it for online and blended learning, as well as a network of certified Moodle Partners for services. The Moodle project is coordinated through Moodle.org, with annual community events such as MoodleMoot conferences. Updates and security patches are provided by the community and core development team.