what is mean by distributed application?

Question

I am starting to learn WCF. The first line it shows that it is used for building distributed application.
What exactly means is that?
I searched on google but not find answers in understandable manners. Will anybody explain it in most simplifed manner with example?

Vulpes · Answer

Distributed applications are those which don't just run on a single computer but are divided up amongst several networked computers working together. To do this the application needs to be split into components which communicate with each other to achieve the overall purpose of the application. Each computer in the network runs one (or more) of these components which perform different tasks. Examples of distributed applications include industrial control systems telecommunication systems and scientific applications which require significant computing power. However WCF is concerned with a form of distributed computing known as 'service oriented' applications (SOA's) which provide services to other applications.