Decentralized applications, or DApps, are software programs that have their backend code running on a distributed computer network. This is in sharp contrast to standard apps which typically run on centralized servers. This, combined with other blockchain-driven innovations, gives dApps some distinct characteristics and advantages over their centralized counterparts. However, at this relatively early stage of their development, dApps also have their fair share of drawbacks.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://blog.crowdbotics.com/what-are-dapps-a-beginners-guide-to-navigating-decentralized-apps/