Decentralized Application (DApp)
A decentralized application (DApp) uses smart contracts or decentralized networks to provide app logic without a single operator controlling the backend.
- Acronym
- DApp
- Also known as
- DAppSmart Contract
A decentralized application (DApp) is an app whose critical state or business logic runs through smart contracts, peer-to-peer networks, or another decentralized backend. Many DApps still use ordinary websites for the user interface, but users interact with contracts or protocols rather than trusting a company-owned database to settle balances.
DApps commonly combine a web frontend, wallet signatures, smart contracts, indexers, and blockchain nodes. The strongest decentralization claims apply to the parts that are actually on-chain or peer-to-peer; hosted frontends, admin keys, and upgradeable contracts can still introduce trust assumptions.
DApps can improve transparency, composability, and censorship resistance, but they also inherit blockchain limits such as transaction fees, latency, irreversible mistakes, and smart contract risk. A useful DApp explains these tradeoffs instead of hiding them behind a familiar web interface.
Related terms
3 linkedExplore connected entries beyond the alphabetical index.
Decentralized Exchange
→A decentralized exchange (DEX) lets users trade digital assets from their wallets through smart contracts or peer-to-peer settlement.
DeFi
→DeFi uses smart contracts to provide permissionless financial services such as trading, lending, borrowing, and asset issuance.
Wallet
→Software or hardware that manages crypto keys, creates addresses, signs transactions, and shows blockchain activity.
All terms and definitions may update as the Cryptionary improves.
