What is a dapp? Decentralized application on the blockchain

An explainer by district0x Network introducing decentralized applications (dapps), covering what makes them different from traditional apps, how they run on blockchain infrastructure, and their security benefits.

This transcript is an accessible copy of the original video transcript (opens in a new tab) published by district0x Network. It has been lightly edited for readability.

What is a dapp? (0:01)

Dapp is the abbreviated term for decentralized application. Just as any developer can build apps for the App Store on Apple's iOS operating system, developers can also build on top of Ethereum's blockchain infrastructure. To the end user, a dapp might not look and feel any different from other apps you use today. However, dapps are powered by the blockchain, and this makes them different — and perhaps far superior.

How dapps work (0:29)

Here's what you need to know:

• A dapp's front-end code and user interface can be written in any language that can make calls to its back end
• Its back-end code runs on a decentralized peer-to-peer network like Ethereum, and all records of the application's operations are stored on a blockchain
• In most cases the entire codebase is open source — this means other people can access the code and build on top of it, but no one person owns the application, meaning they are free to be used, improved, and built on by anyone in the community
• The collection of users of the dapp is free to govern themselves — this concept is called autonomy

Security benefits (1:10)

Running dapps on the blockchain also offers added security benefits. Since the transactions are distributed and encrypted across the Ethereum blockchain, there is no central place for a hacker to breach and gain access.

Building dapps on Ethereum (1:23)

Ethereum is perhaps the best platform for building dapps, thanks to its very own language, Solidity. This enables developers to create smart contracts using the Ethereum Virtual Machine. Using these tools, developers have created apps with use cases ranging from prediction markets to resource planning.

Example: Ethlance (1:43)

One example of a dapp already up and running is Ethlance. Ethlance is a completely decentralized job marketplace where freelancers can find work and employers can find workers. Since it is powered by the Ethereum blockchain, apart from gas fees it is completely free to use.