Glossary: terms you'll see across YOM
Quick definitions for NANO, host, node, $YOM, session, rig check and other terms used throughout the YOM ecosystem.
A few terms come up constantly in YOM docs, the YOM app, and the community. Here are quick definitions so the rest of the help center reads cleanly.
GPU edge network
What YOM actually builds: a decentralized grid of GPUs (mostly gaming PCs people already own) placed physically close to users, “at the edge” of the network instead of in a distant data center. Proximity is the whole point: it is what makes sub-12ms game streaming possible. Cloud gaming is the first workload that runs on it; real-time AI and interactive 3D are next.
walter.gg
The consumer cloud gaming platform built on top of the YOM network, currently in free beta. Walter curates the game library, handles installs and patches, and streams from the nearest YOM node. In short: YOM is the infrastructure, walter.gg is where players will find the games. If your question is about a specific game or the Walter library, that lives on the Walter side.
NANO
The YOM NANO is the plug-and-play hardware that turns your gaming PC into a node. It’s a secure-boot SSD (USB form factor): you plug it into your PC, boot from it, and your machine’s own GPU does the hosting. A software-only node setup on a qualifying rig is also supported; the NANO is the convenient option, not the only one.
node
A node is any machine on the YOM network that hosts game sessions. Could be a NANO, could be a custom-built gaming PC that passed the Rig Check. Operators run nodes.
host
A host is a physical machine running a NANO or Node OS: one host = one machine. A single host can run multiple node licenses if the hardware allows it. The YOM app’s “My hosts” section lists the machines you personally run. (The person running hosts is the operator.)
session
A session is one player streaming one game on one node for one stretch of time. Sessions are the unit of work the network does, and earnings are calculated per session.
$YOM
The token that powers the network. Operators earn it for hosting, players hold it for governance and rewards, and contributors are paid in it. Live on Avalanche C-Chain and tradable on MEXC, KuCoin, Kraken, and Blackhole.
rig check
A 30-second compatibility test for your gaming PC. It measures GPU, CPU, memory, bandwidth, and latency to see whether your machine qualifies as a node. Run it at app.yom.net/rigcheck.
coverage
How many active nodes exist in a player’s geographic region. High coverage = low latency = good experience. The amber/green indicator on /demo is showing exactly this.
quest
A challenge in the YOM app that rewards XP and sometimes token allocations when you complete it. Things like “play 5 sessions this week” or “refer 3 friends.” Tracked in the Quests section of app.yom.net.