De jure is a term that refers to something that is in accordance with the law or established by law.
De facto, on the other hand, refers to something that exists in fact or in practice, even if it is not formally recognized or sanctioned by law.
Here is an example that illustrates the difference between de jure and de facto:
Imagine that you live in a small village where the villagers have always used a particular field as a communal playground. The field is not formally owned by anyone, but the villagers have always treated it as a public space and have never had any issues with it.
One day, a wealthy businessman from the city decides to buy the field and build a shopping mall on it. The villagers are upset, as they have always used the field as a playground and are now concerned that they will no longer have a place to play.
The businessman claims that he has the legal right to build the mall on the field, as he is the de jure owner of the land. However, the villagers argue that the field has always been a de facto playground for the community, and that the businessman has no right to take it away from them.
In this example, the businessman's ownership of the field is de jure, as it is recognized by the law. However, the villagers' use of the field as a playground is de facto, as it exists in practice but is not formally recognized by law.