Glossary

DApp

Plain-language definition Crypto glossary

Key takeaways

A DApp, or decentralized application, is software whose core logic runs on a blockchain through smart contracts rather than on servers controlled by one company.
DApps usually pair an ordinary web interface with smart contracts on a public blockchain, and users interact by connecting their own wallet and signing transactions, keeping custody of their assets.
Because the contracts are public and run on a decentralized network, a DApp is harder to censor or shut down, but bugs in the contract code are exposed to everyone and can be hard to fix once deployed.

Definition

A DApp (decentralized application) is software whose core logic runs on a blockchain via smart contracts, rather than on servers controlled by one company.

How it works

A DApp typically pairs a normal web interface with smart contracts deployed on a public blockchain that handle its rules and store its state. Users interact by connecting their own wallet and signing transactions, so they keep custody of their assets and the back-end logic runs on the network instead of a private server.

Why it matters

Because the contracts are public and run on a decentralized network, a DApp can keep operating without a central operator and is harder to censor or shut down. The trade-off is that bugs in the contract code are exposed to everyone and, once deployed, can be hard to fix.

Example

A decentralized exchange that lets you swap tokens straight from your wallet is a common type of DApp.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How is a DApp different from a regular app?

A regular app runs its core logic on servers a company controls, while a DApp runs its rules and stores its state in smart contracts on a public blockchain. This means a DApp can keep operating without a central operator, and users keep custody of their assets instead of handing them to the company.

What is an example of a DApp?

A decentralized exchange that lets you swap tokens straight from your wallet is a common type of DApp. Other examples include lending protocols and NFT marketplaces, all of which run their logic through smart contracts rather than a private server.

Are DApps safe to use?

DApps remove reliance on a single operator, which makes them harder to censor or shut down, but they carry their own risks. Because smart contract code is public and often hard to change once deployed, any bug in that code is exposed to everyone, so users should be cautious and understand what they are signing.