Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) is a Microsoft technology that enables communication between software components over a network. It allows for the sharing of objects across different platforms and programming languages, making it easier to build complex distributed systems. DCOM is used in a variety of applications, including enterprise applications, web-based software, and client-server systems. To work with DCOM, programmers must have a strong understanding of network protocols, programming languages, and software development processes.