# ROOT

> data analysis software

**Wikidata**: [Q947171](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q947171)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ROOT)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/root

## Summary
ROOT is a data analysis software framework developed by CERN for high-energy physics and other scientific applications. It provides tools for data processing, statistical analysis, and visualization, and is widely used in particle physics, astrophysics, and nuclear physics research.

## Key Facts
- Developed by CERN in 1995 as a successor to the Physics Analysis Workstation
- Available under GNU Lesser General Public License and GNU General Public License
- Latest stable version is 6.12/04 released in December 2017
- Supports multiple operating systems including Linux, FreeBSD, macOS, OpenBSD, and Microsoft Windows
- Written primarily in C++ with Python bindings available
- Used by major experiments including CMS at CERN for Higgs boson discovery analysis
- Has over 15 Wikipedia sitelinks across multiple languages
- Active Twitter account @root_project with 234,100 followers

## FAQs
### Q: What is ROOT used for?
A: ROOT is used for data analysis in high-energy physics, astrophysics, and nuclear physics. It provides tools for statistical analysis, data visualization, and processing large datasets from scientific experiments.

### Q: Is ROOT free to use?
A: Yes, ROOT is free software available under GNU Lesser General Public License and GNU General Public License, making it freely available for academic and commercial use.

### Q: What programming languages does ROOT support?
A: ROOT is primarily written in C++ but also supports Python through bindings, allowing users to write analysis code in either language.

## Why It Matters
ROOT revolutionized data analysis in high-energy physics by providing a comprehensive framework that combines statistical tools, visualization capabilities, and data processing in a single platform. Its development at CERN addressed the growing need for sophisticated analysis tools as particle physics experiments generated increasingly large datasets. The software played a crucial role in major discoveries, including the Higgs boson detection, where CMS experiment results were all plotted using ROOT. Beyond particle physics, ROOT has expanded into other scientific domains, becoming an essential tool for researchers handling complex data analysis tasks. Its open-source nature and cross-platform compatibility have made it accessible to the global scientific community, fostering collaboration and standardization in data analysis methodologies across different research institutions and experiments.

## Notable For
- First comprehensive data analysis framework specifically designed for high-energy physics
- Used in the discovery of the Higgs boson at CERN's Large Hadron Collider
- Provides integrated statistical analysis, visualization, and data processing capabilities
- Maintained and continuously developed by CERN's scientific computing division
- Supports both C++ and Python programming languages for analysis scripts

## Body
### Development and History
ROOT was developed at CERN starting in 1995 as a successor to the Physics Analysis Workstation, addressing the need for more sophisticated data analysis tools in high-energy physics. The framework was created to handle the increasing complexity and volume of data from particle physics experiments at CERN's accelerators.

### Technical Architecture
ROOT is primarily written in C++ and provides a comprehensive set of libraries for data analysis, statistical modeling, and visualization. The framework includes a C++ interpreter (CINT) and supports Python bindings through PyROOT, allowing users to write analysis scripts in either language. It features a custom data format optimized for high-energy physics applications.

### Applications and Usage
ROOT is extensively used in major particle physics experiments including CMS, ATLAS, and LHCb at CERN. Beyond particle physics, it finds applications in astrophysics for analyzing telescope data, in nuclear physics for reactor simulations, and in other scientific domains requiring complex data analysis. The CMS experiment used ROOT for all plots presented during the Higgs boson discovery announcement in 2012.

### Platform Support and Distribution
ROOT runs on multiple operating systems including Linux, FreeBSD, macOS, OpenBSD, and Microsoft Windows. It is distributed through various package managers including Homebrew, MacPorts, and system-specific repositories. The framework is available in both source code and pre-compiled binary formats.

### Community and Development
ROOT is actively maintained by CERN with contributions from the global scientific community. The project maintains an active presence on GitHub and uses GitHub Issues for bug tracking and feature requests. The framework has a dedicated subreddit (/r/cernroot) and Twitter account (@root_project) for community engagement and support.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "SoftwareApplication",
  "name": "ROOT",
  "description": "Data analysis software framework developed by CERN for high-energy physics and scientific applications",
  "url": "https://root.cern",
  "creator": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "CERN"
  },
  "operatingSystem": [
    "Linux",
    "FreeBSD",
    "macOS",
    "OpenBSD",
    "Microsoft Windows"
  ],
  "applicationCategory": "Data Analysis",
  "license": [
    "GNU Lesser General Public License",
    "GNU General Public License"
  ],
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q328",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ROOT"
  ]
}

## References

1. [The root Open Source Project on Open Hub: Languages Page. Open Hub](https://www.openhub.net/p/root/analyses/latest/languages_summary)
2. [Source](https://root.cern.ch/supported-platforms)
3. [Source](http://root.cern.ch/drupal/content/root-version-v5-34-00-patch-release-notes)
4. [Source](https://d35c7d8c.web.cern.ch/content/release-53434)
5. [Source](https://root.cern.ch/content/release-60800)
6. [Source](https://root.cern.ch/content/release-53436)
7. [Source](https://root.cern.ch/content/release-60802)
8. [Source](https://root.cern.ch/content/release-60804)
9. [Source](https://root.cern.ch/gitweb/?p=root.git;a=tag;h=refs/tags/v6-12-04)
10. [Release 6.12/04 - 2017-12-13](https://root.cern.ch/content/release-61204)
11. [Source](https://root.cern.ch/gitweb/?p=root.git;a=tag;h=refs/tags/v6-12-06)
12. [Release 6.12/06 - 2018-02-09](https://root.cern.ch/content/release-61206)
13. [Release 6.16/00 - 2019-01-23](https://root.cern.ch/content/release-61600)
14. [Release 6.10.04. 2017](https://github.com/root-project/root/releases/tag/v6-10-04)
15. [Release 6.10.06. 2017](https://github.com/root-project/root/releases/tag/v6-10-06)
16. [Release 6.10.08. 2017](https://github.com/root-project/root/releases/tag/v6-10-08)
17. [Release 6.14.00. 2018](https://github.com/root-project/root/releases/tag/v6-14-00)
18. [Release 6.18.00. 2019](https://github.com/root-project/root/releases/tag/v6-18-00)
19. [Release 6.18/02. 2019](https://root.cern/content/release-61802)
20. [Release 6.18.02. 2020](https://github.com/root-project/root/releases/tag/v6-18-02)
21. [Release 6.16.00. 2019](https://github.com/root-project/root/releases/tag/v6-16-00)
22. [Release 6.18/04. 2019](https://root.cern/content/release-61804)
23. [Release 6.18.04. 2019](https://github.com/root-project/root/releases/tag/v6-18-04)
24. [Release 6.20/04. 2020](https://root.cern/content/release-62004)
25. [Release 6.20.00. 2020](https://github.com/root-project/root/releases/tag/v6-20-00)
26. [Release 6.20.02. 2020](https://github.com/root-project/root/releases/tag/v6-20-02)
27. [Release 6.20.04. 2020](https://github.com/root-project/root/releases/tag/v6-20-04)
28. [Release 6.20.06. 2020](https://github.com/root-project/root/releases/tag/v6-20-06)
29. [Release 6.22.06](https://github.com/root-project/root/releases/tag/v6-22-06)
30. [ROOT Version 6.24 Release Notes](https://root.cern/doc/v624/release-notes.html#release-6.2406)
31. [ROOT Version 6.26 Release Notes](https://root.cern/doc/v626/release-notes.html#release-6.2600)
32. [Release 6.26.04. 2022](https://github.com/root-project/root/releases/tag/v6-26-04)
33. [Release 6.26.10. 2022](https://github.com/root-project/root/releases/tag/v6-26-10)
34. [2023](https://github.com/root-project/root/releases/tag/v6-28-00)
35. [2023](https://root.cern/releases/release-62802/)
36. [2023](https://root.cern/releases/release-62804/)
37. [2023](https://root.cern/releases/release-62806/)
38. [2023](https://root.cern/releases/release-63000/)
39. [2023](https://root.cern/doc/v630/release-notes.html#release-6.3002)
40. [2024](https://root.cern/doc/v630/release-notes.html#release-6.3004)
41. [Release 6.26.16. 2024](https://github.com/root-project/root/releases/tag/v6-26-16)
42. [Release 6.30.06. 2024](https://github.com/root-project/root/releases/tag/v6-30-06)
43. [Release 6.30.08. 2024](https://github.com/root-project/root/releases/tag/v6-30-08)
44. [Release 6.32.00. 2024](https://github.com/root-project/root/releases/tag/v6-32-00)
45. [Release 6.32.02. 2024](https://github.com/root-project/root/releases/tag/v6-32-02)
46. [Release 6.32.04. 2024](https://root.cern/doc/v632/release-notes.html#release-6.32.04)
47. [Release 6.32.06. 2024](https://root.cern/doc/v632/release-notes.html#release-6.32.06)
48. [Release 6.32.08. 2024](https://github.com/root-project/root/releases/tag/v6-32-08)
49. [Release 6.34.00. 2024](https://github.com/root-project/root/releases/tag/v6-34-00)
50. [Release 6.34.02. 2024](https://github.com/root-project/root/releases/tag/v6-34-02)