> For the complete Linea documentation index, see [llms.txt](/llms.txt). > Agents can fetch this page as Markdown at [https://docs.linea.build/protocol/linea-vs-lineth.md](https://docs.linea.build/protocol/linea-vs-lineth.md). # Linea and Lineth "Linea" and "Lineth" are related but distinct: **Linea** is the public network, brand, token, and governance context, and **Lineth** is the technical stack and protocol that powers it. This page states the distinction once, authoritatively, so the rest of the documentation can use each name precisely. ## What is Linea **Linea** is the public, permissionless zkEVM Layer 2 network that scales Ethereum, along with its brand, token, tokenomics, and governance: - **Linea Mainnet** and **Linea Sepolia**: the public network and its testnet. - The **Linea** brand, the **Linea Consortium** that governs the **Linea Protocol**, and user- and developer-facing products such as the **Linea SDK**. When the documentation means the network you transact on, the product, or its governance, it says **Linea**. ## What is Lineth **Lineth (formerly the Linea Stack)** is the open-source ZK-rollup stack, codebase, and technical protocol: the protocol components, onchain contracts, and operational tooling that operators deploy. It applies to all chains built on it. It is an incubating project at [LF Decentralized Trust (LFDT)](https://www.lfdecentralizedtrust.org/), where the open-source Linea Stack was contributed and renamed Lineth. When the documentation means the technical stack, protocol, codebase, deployable components, or the LFDT project, it says **Lineth**. ## How they relate Linea Mainnet is built on Lineth. Lineth is both: - The **foundation of Linea Mainnet**. - A **stack operators can deploy** to launch their own Ethereum-compatible networks (Layer 2 or Layer 3), with configurable privacy, data availability, and finalization, while inheriting zero-knowledge security guarantees and Ethereum compatibility. A network an operator builds with Lineth is its own Ethereum-compatible network, not the public Linea network. note This mirrors the [LFDT naming model](https://github.com/LF-Decentralized-Trust/wiki/wiki/Naming-Guidelines#sub-project-naming-guidelines): the public network keeps its established name (Linea), while the donated open-source code project takes a distinct name (Lineth), following the same pattern as Hedera (network) and Hiero (LFDT project). ## When each name applies - **Linea**: Linea Mainnet-specific brand, token, tokenomics, Linea Consortium, Linea Mainnet, Linea Sepolia, Linea SDK. - **Lineth**: the technical stack and protocol, including the open-source rollup stack, codebase, components, clients, contracts, tooling, LFDT project, and all chains built on it. On first reference within a page, the stack is introduced as **"Lineth (formerly the Linea Stack)"**, then **Lineth** thereafter. ## Next steps - Read the [Linea network overview](/protocol/overview). - Explore [Lineth](/stack), the open-source stack.