LTS
also: Long Term Support
LTS stands for Long Term Support, a software release that receives maintenance and security updates for an extended period, typically 5-10 years.
LTS releases are designated versions of Linux distributions (like Ubuntu LTS or RHEL) that prioritize stability and long-term support over cutting-edge features. They receive security patches, bug fixes, and critical updates for many years, making them ideal for production servers and enterprise environments.
For example, Ubuntu 22.04 LTS will receive updates until April 2032, whereas standard Ubuntu releases are supported for only 9 months. This predictability allows organizations to plan infrastructure deployments with confidence that their systems will remain supported and secure.
Non-LTS releases, sometimes called "standard" or "regular" versions, ship new features more frequently but require upgrades more often. Choosing LTS is a trade-off: you get stability and long support windows, but may miss newer software versions.