What is a DApp?
A DApp is a decentralized application that runs on a peer-to-peer network of computers rather than a single computer. The underlying protocol of a DApp can be based on any blockchain, but the most popular one is Ethereum.
What is Ethereum?
Ethereum is a decentralized platform that runs smart contracts: applications that run exactly as programmed without any possibility of fraud or third party interference.
What are the characteristics of a DApp?
A DApp has the following characteristics:
1. Open source: the code of a DApp is open source and anyone can contribute to its development.
2. Decentralized: a DApp is not controlled by any single entity.
Instead, it is run by a network of nodes, each of which has a copy of the DApp’s code and data.
NOTE: WARNING: DApp stands for Decentralized Application, and is not related to Ethereum or any other cryptocurrency. DApps are applications that run on a distributed ledger instead of a traditional server. They are not owned by any one person or organization, and can be used to store and transfer digital assets in a secure and transparent way. Be aware that investing in cryptocurrency carries a high risk of financial loss.
3. Token-based: a DApp has its own cryptocurrency or “token” that is used to power its operations and incentivize its users.
For example, the Ethereum blockchain itself is powered by ether, the native cryptocurrency of Ethereum. Similarly, many DApps have their own tokens that are used to pay for transactions within the DApp or to reward users for their contributions to the DApp’s development.
4. Incentivized: users are incentivized to contribute to the development and maintenance of a DApp through rewards (in the form of tokens) or through other means such as reputation points.
5. Trustless: because a DApp is decentralized and runs on a blockchain, it is trustless, meaning that users don’t need to trust any central authority in order to use it.
This also makes it much more resistant to censorship than traditional centralized applications.
4 Related Question Answers Found
DApp is an abbreviated form of “decentralized application”. A DApp has its backend code running on a decentralized peer-to-peer network. Contrast this with an app where the backend code is running on centralized servers.
A dApp is a decentralized application that runs on a decentralized network. A dApp can be coded in any programming language, and it can be built on top of any blockchain. The most popular dApp platform is Ethereum.
Ethereum is a decentralized platform that runs smart contracts: applications that run exactly as programmed without any possibility of fraud or third party interference. In the Ethereum protocol and blockchain there is a price for each operation. The general ledger records these prices in ETH (Ether), the internal currency of Ethereum.
A DAO is a decentralized autonomous organization. It is an organization that is run by code, not by people. A DAO’s code is written on the Ethereum blockchain.