Decentralized Applications (d'Apps)

The term "d'apps" might be how you order appetizers in France. But in America, it's a type of app that doesn't run on a single computer, but instead exists on a network of computers.

The most famous example of this is the blockchain technology that forms the basis of cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin. The defining aspect of these products comes from the fact that they exist outside the control of a central authority (which is the basic point of a cryptocurrency).

However, the same fundamental theory can apply to other types of programs. A Google doc can be accessed by multiple users, but it still exists on a Google server. Similarly, millions of people have Twitter accounts, but Twitter can still shut someone down for breaking its code of conduct. A d'App version of these products would not be overseen by a company.

Find other enlightening terms in Shmoop Finance Genius Bar(f)