# Nostr: Is Nostr an app or a protocol?

Nostr is a protocol, not one app.

2026-08-12
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Switchboard Tech Services


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## Short answer

Nostr is a protocol, not one app. A client is the app you use, a relay is a server that accepts and serves events, and NIPs describe interoperable behavior. This distinction matters when an app shuts down: you may be able to use another client with the same keys, provided it supports the features and can find your data on relays.

## Sources

[NIP-01: Basic protocol](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/01.md), [Nostr Improvement Proposals index](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/README.md).

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Canonical URL: https://switchboardtechservices.com/guides/nostr-is-nostr-an-app-or-a-protocol/

Language: en-us

Content type: guide

Author: Switchboard Tech Services

Published: 2026-08-13T00:26:49+00:00

Description: A practical answer to Is Nostr an app or a protocol?