Typically, a decoupled system consists of one or more standalone computing components/elements, such as a computer, server, business application and storage application. Each component is connected via a shared interface but can operate independently. Their performance and operation usually does not affect other systems.

For example, in cloud computing infrastructure services, the cloud provider is responsible for delivering the cloud or backend infrastructure but does not have any control over the client's applications installed and used on top of it by the client.