In Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger X11.app was an optional install included on the install DVD. X11.app was initially available as a downloadable public beta for Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar and later included as a standard package for Mac OS X 10.3 Panther. This includes numerous scientific and academic software projects. XQuartz allows cross-platform applications using X11 for the GUI to run on macOS, many of which are not specifically designed for macOS.
The name 'XQuartz' derives from Quartz, part of the macOS Core Graphics framework, to which XQuartz connects these applications. It formally replaced Apple's internal X11 app. XQuartz is an open-source version of the X.Org X server, a component of the X Window System (X11, or shortened to simply X, and sometimes informally X-Windows) that runs on macOS.
Jeremy Huddleston Sequoia, X.Org Foundation, Apple Inc. (Redirected from X11.app) XQuartz (X11.app) Developer(s)
