De facto is a Latin expression that means "in fact" or "in practice" but not spelled out by law. It is commonly used in contrast to de jure (which means "by law") when referring to matters of law, governance, or technique (such as standards), that are found in the common experience as created or developed without or against a regulation. When discussing a legal situation, de jure designates lawfully what the law says, while de facto designates action of what happens in practice.