// GLOSSARY -- BLOCKCHAIN & CRYPTO FUNDAMENTALS

What is dApp (Decentralized Application)?

1 min read Updated

A dApp (decentralized application) is a software application that runs on a blockchain or peer-to-peer network rather than centralized servers — combining a traditional frontend with smart contract backends.

WHY IT MATTERS

dApps are the user-facing layer of Web3. They look like normal web applications but interact with blockchain smart contracts instead of (or in addition to) traditional backends. Uniswap, Aave, OpenSea — all dApps.

The typical architecture: a React/Next.js frontend, a wallet connection (MetaMask, WalletConnect), and smart contract calls for core business logic. Data is stored on-chain (expensive, permanent) or on IPFS/Arweave (cheaper, decentralized).

dApps inherit blockchain properties: censorship resistance (anyone can access), transparency (code is open), and composability (dApps can build on each other). The tradeoff is user experience — wallet connections, gas fees, and transaction confirmation are friction points.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How is a dApp different from a regular app?
Backend logic runs on blockchain (smart contracts) instead of company servers. Users authenticate with wallets instead of username/password. Data is on a public ledger instead of private databases.
Do dApps require a blockchain for everything?
No. Most dApps are hybrid — blockchain for critical logic (transactions, ownership) and traditional infrastructure for everything else (UI, caching, notifications). Pure on-chain apps are rare.
What's the user experience like?
Improving but still harder than Web2. Users need wallets, must manage gas, and wait for transaction confirmation. Account abstraction and L2s are progressively solving these UX challenges.

FURTHER READING

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