How and why are operating systems bootable from a USB?

Posted by user114638 on Programmers See other posts from Programmers or by user114638
Published on 2014-05-30T19:51:45Z Indexed on 2014/05/31 3:51 UTC
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linux

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ubuntu

I'm told to install ubuntu on my laptop for work in order to learn shell scripting. I've read the best way is to install ubuntu on a USB stick and partition my HDD. I'm curious how an OS is bootable from a USB stick? Is it literally just a small interface that can be put anywhere?

This reminds me of a time I downloaded a game onto my USB stick, when I brought it to my friends house he told me it will run slow if I don't install it and only run it from the usb, is this different from running ubuntu from a usb? Will ubuntu be slow?

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