Decentralized applications are stored and executed on a blockchain platform. They are validated using cryptographic tokens.

A blockchain is a form of distributed ledger that maintains a transparent and immutable record of transactions within a network of nodes, or computers, which carry out cryptographic validations.

DApps do not depend on centralized servers and databases. Instead, they use smart contracts on the blockchain to enforce predefined rules through code. By removing the need for a central server, dApps eliminate the risk of having a single point of failure.

Like conventional software applications, dApps employ front-end code to make calls to the back end.

However, their back-end code differs as it relies on decentralized peer-to-peer (P2P) networks rather than centralized servers to run the app. This ensures that no single authority can take control. DApps are open source, so the code is publicly available for all users to evaluate, and any change to an app needs to be agreed upon by consensus.

A smart contract essentially comprises back-end code, and to enable dApp functionality, multiple smart contracts must combine with third-party systems for the front end. Front-end code can be hosted on decentralized storage such as the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) file-sharing network.