A third party is an individual or entity that is involved in a transaction or interaction but is not one of the primary parties. The term can be used in various contexts, including politics, business, and technology. Here are some examples:

• Politics: In the United States, a third party is a political party other than the two major parties (the Republican and Democratic parties)). Third parties are most often encountered in presidential nominations and tend to exist to promote a specific issue or personality). They can draw attention to issues that may be ignored by the majority parties, and if such an issue finds acceptance with the voters, one or more of the major parties may adopt the issue into its own party platform).

• Business: In a business deal or legal issue, a third party is an entity that isnt directly involved but has a minor role in the situation. For example, an escrow company in a real estate transaction acts as a neutral agent by collecting the documents and money that the buyer and seller exchange when completing the transaction. A collection agency may be another example of a third party, as it is hired by a creditor to ensure that a debtor honors their agreement.

• Technology: In a man-in-the-middle attack, a third party intercepts communications between two parties, usually an end user and a website, typically to access user data. A third-party cookie is placed on a user’s computer by a website from a domain other than the one the user is visiting. A 3PL (third-party logistics) is a provider of outsourced logistics services.

Third parties can play an important role in raising issues that may be ignored by the primary parties and can change the political debate and even policy). However, they tend to have a lesser interest in the transaction or interaction and may not be officially a part of it.