| App-chain | A L1 blockchain focused on a specific vertical. For instance, Osmosis is a DeFi-focused app-chain. |
| Zone | A Zone is an app-chain on Cosmos that has enabled IBC. |
| Hub | Refers to a Zone that gets sufficiently popular where it becomes integral in cross-chain interoperability - any Zone can become a Hub. Examples include the Cosmos Hub (ATOM). |
| Cosmos Hub | Refers to the L1 blockchain that is home to ATOM, and does not reflect the broader ecosystem. This is confusing naming and should not be misconstrued with the entire ecosystem. |
| Inter Blockchain Communication (IBC) | A generalized messaging protocol that allows for any Cosmos Zone to... |
