nonAPP

Nonapp is a term used in some technology circles to describe software products that are not traditional end-user applications. It is used to contrast with apps, which are typically consumer-facing, interactive programs installed on devices or accessed through web interfaces. Nonapps may include firmware and operating-system components, libraries, middleware, developer tools, application programming interfaces (APIs), and cloud-based services that run without a standalone user interface.

Examples include device firmware in smart appliances, embedded software in automobiles, drivers and system services in operating systems, backend microservices, and APIs that enable other software to function. Nonapps may also encompass software development kits and libraries that are not themselves apps but enable app creation.

Because nonapp is not a standardized category, definitions vary by organization. It is sometimes used in product strategy to separate user-facing products from underlying infrastructure, platform services, or developer tools. Critics note that the term can be ambiguous and that clearer categories (firmware, middleware, APIs, services) reduce confusion. The term is not widely adopted as a formal classification and appears primarily in informal discussions and business discourse.