# What are Smart Contract Platforms?

From a consumer standpoint, a smart contract platform is a bit like your iPhone – it’s a computer that you can use to run programs and access applications.  Much like your iPhone can host Airbnb, Uber, Facebook, Tinder and Netflix, these platforms can also host almost any type of digital business.

Unlike traditional computers, however, smart contract platforms are **decentralized and distributed**, meaning that instead of being owned by a company like Apple and hosted on server controlled by Apple, they are hosted on multiple computers located all over the world and aren’t controlled by any one entity. 

<figure><img src="/files/syh2XYt1NS7gcIk1V4XI" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

This structure makes smart contract platforms akin to a “shared world computer”.  Because ownership is shared by multiple parties (i.e. “decentralized”), **no one party can control the network** and tell users what they can and can’t do.  Because they are hosted over multiple locations (i.e. “distributed”), **no one can ever turn them off or shut them down**.&#x20;

In addition, smart contract platforms are:&#x20;

* **Open to Everyone**:  You don’t need permission to use smart contracts and you can’t be blocked – anyone can use them at any time and from any location
* **Permanent**:  They can’t be changed or manipulated
* **Transparent**:  Unlike most corporations today, which choose what users can and cannot see, everyone can see every transaction on a smart contract platform and easily audit things when necessary

As potential world computers, smart contract platforms have the potential to become the fundamental infrastructure layer of a decentralized economy.  As such, **they are also known as “Layer 1” platforms**.&#x20;


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