mobile app

A program designed to run on a  smart phone, tablet, or other mobile device. Mobile apps are available through application distribution platforms, which are typically operated by the owner of the mobile operating system (such as the Apple App Store, Google Play, Windows Phone Marketplace and BlackBerry App World). Some apps are free, while others have a price.

Usually, mobile apps are downloaded from the platform to a target device, such as an iPhone, BlackBerry, or Android phone, but sometimes they can be downloaded to less mobile computers, such as a laptop or desktop.

Historical perspective: The term "app" was listed as "Word of the Year" by the American Dialect Society in 2010.