A DRep (delegated representative) is a registered participant in Cardano’s on-chain governance who votes on governance actions on behalf of the ada holders who delegate to them. The role was introduced by CIP-1694 in the Conway era: instead of every wallet voting on every proposal, holders hand their voting power to a representative whose vote then carries that combined weight.
Anyone can become a DRep by registering on-chain with a refundable deposit. A DRep can publish a metadata profile (name, objectives, contact details) so delegators know who they are; registration and a public profile are separate steps. Alongside individually registered DReps, the protocol provides two predefined options every holder can delegate to instead: Abstain and No Confidence (see motion of no confidence).
DReps vote on almost every type of governance action, and many publish a vote rationale explaining each decision. You can browse all registered DReps and their voting records in the DRep directory.