diff --git a/django/apps/__init__.py b/django/apps/__init__.py
index 6b47d3397f..074a448660 100644
--- a/django/apps/__init__.py
+++ b/django/apps/__init__.py
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
 from .base import AppConfig     # NOQA
-from .cache import app_cache    # NOQA
+from .registry import apps      # NOQA
diff --git a/django/apps/base.py b/django/apps/base.py
index 706ed54ef6..f1baaa5adf 100644
--- a/django/apps/base.py
+++ b/django/apps/base.py
@@ -97,8 +97,8 @@ class AppConfig(object):
 
     def import_models(self, all_models):
         # Dictionary of models for this app, stored in the 'all_models'
-        # attribute of the AppCache this AppConfig is attached to. Injected as
-        # a parameter because it may get populated before this method has run.
+        # attribute of the Apps this AppConfig is attached to. Injected as a
+        # parameter because it may get populated before this method has run.
         self.models = all_models
 
         if module_has_submodule(self.app_module, MODELS_MODULE_NAME):
diff --git a/django/apps/cache.py b/django/apps/registry.py
similarity index 94%
rename from django/apps/cache.py
rename to django/apps/registry.py
index 92007f637a..0cb58f2049 100644
--- a/django/apps/cache.py
+++ b/django/apps/registry.py
@@ -14,25 +14,26 @@ from django.utils._os import upath
 from .base import AppConfig
 
 
-class AppCache(object):
+class Apps(object):
     """
-    A cache that stores installed applications and their models. Used to
-    provide reverse-relations and for app introspection.
+    A registry that stores the configuration of installed applications.
+
+    It also keeps track of models eg. to provide reverse-relations.
     """
 
     def __init__(self, master=False):
-        # Only one master of the app-cache may exist at a given time, and it
-        # shall be the app_cache variable defined at the end of this module.
-        if master and hasattr(sys.modules[__name__], 'app_cache'):
-            raise RuntimeError("You may create only one master app cache.")
+        # Only one master registry may exist at a given time, and it shall be
+        # the apps variable defined at the end of this module.
+        if master and hasattr(sys.modules[__name__], 'apps'):
+            raise RuntimeError("You may create only one master registry.")
 
-        # When master is set to False, the app cache isn't populated from
+        # When master is set to False, the registry isn't populated from
         # INSTALLED_APPS and ignores the only_installed arguments to
         # get_model[s].
         self.master = master
 
         # Mapping of app labels => model names => model classes. Used to
-        # register models before the app cache is populated and also for
+        # register models before the registry is populated and also for
         # applications that aren't installed.
         self.all_models = defaultdict(OrderedDict)
 
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ class AppCache(object):
         # set_available_apps and set_installed_apps.
         self.stored_app_configs = []
 
-        # Internal flags used when populating the master cache.
+        # Internal flags used when populating the master registry.
         self._apps_loaded = not self.master
         self._models_loaded = not self.master
 
@@ -133,9 +134,9 @@ class AppCache(object):
                 self.get_models.cache_clear()
                 self._models_loaded = True
 
-    def app_cache_ready(self):
+    def ready(self):
         """
-        Returns true if the model cache is fully populated.
+        Returns True if the registry is fully populated.
 
         Useful for code that wants to cache the results of get_models() for
         themselves once it is safe to do so.
@@ -200,7 +201,7 @@ class AppCache(object):
         By default, models that aren't part of installed apps will *not*
         be included in the list of models. However, if you specify
         only_installed=False, they will be. If you're using a non-default
-        AppCache, this argument does nothing - all models will be included.
+        Apps, this argument does nothing - all models will be included.
 
         By default, models that have been swapped out will *not* be
         included in the list of models. However, if you specify
@@ -272,11 +273,11 @@ class AppCache(object):
 
     def has_app(self, app_name):
         """
-        Checks whether an application with this name exists in the app cache.
+        Checks whether an application with this name exists in the registry.
 
         app_name is the full name of the app eg. 'django.contrib.admin'.
 
-        It's safe to call this method at import time, even while the app cache
+        It's safe to call this method at import time, even while the registry
         is being populated. It returns None for apps that aren't loaded yet.
         """
         app_config = self.app_configs.get(app_name.rpartition(".")[2])
@@ -286,7 +287,7 @@ class AppCache(object):
         """
         Returns the model class if one is registered and None otherwise.
 
-        It's safe to call this method at import time, even while the app cache
+        It's safe to call this method at import time, even while the registry
         is being populated. It returns None for models that aren't loaded yet.
         """
         return self.all_models[app_label].get(model_name.lower())
@@ -371,6 +372,12 @@ class AppCache(object):
         self.get_models.cache_clear()
         return app_config.models_module
 
+    def app_cache_ready(self):
+        warnings.warn(
+            "app_cache_ready() is deprecated.",
+            PendingDeprecationWarning, stacklevel=2)
+        return self.ready()
+
     def get_app(self, app_label):
         """
         Returns the module containing the models for the given app_label.
@@ -446,4 +453,4 @@ class AppCache(object):
             self.register_model(app_label, model)
 
 
-app_cache = AppCache(master=True)
+apps = Apps(master=True)
diff --git a/django/contrib/admin/sites.py b/django/contrib/admin/sites.py
index c2a409a0e4..0edeca210e 100644
--- a/django/contrib/admin/sites.py
+++ b/django/contrib/admin/sites.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from django.contrib.auth import logout as auth_logout, REDIRECT_FIELD_NAME
 from django.contrib.contenttypes import views as contenttype_views
 from django.views.decorators.csrf import csrf_protect
 from django.db.models.base import ModelBase
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.core.exceptions import ImproperlyConfigured, PermissionDenied
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse, NoReverseMatch
 from django.template.response import TemplateResponse
@@ -160,11 +160,11 @@ class AdminSite(object):
         The default implementation checks that admin and contenttypes apps are
         installed, as well as the auth context processor.
         """
-        app_cache.populate_apps()
-        if not app_cache.has_app('django.contrib.admin'):
+        apps.populate_apps()
+        if not apps.has_app('django.contrib.admin'):
             raise ImproperlyConfigured("Put 'django.contrib.admin' in your "
                 "INSTALLED_APPS setting in order to use the admin application.")
-        if not app_cache.has_app('django.contrib.contenttypes'):
+        if not apps.has_app('django.contrib.contenttypes'):
             raise ImproperlyConfigured("Put 'django.contrib.contenttypes' in "
                 "your INSTALLED_APPS setting in order to use the admin application.")
         if 'django.contrib.auth.context_processors.auth' not in settings.TEMPLATE_CONTEXT_PROCESSORS:
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ class AdminSite(object):
                         app_dict[app_label]['models'].append(model_dict)
                     else:
                         app_dict[app_label] = {
-                            'name': app_cache.get_app_config(app_label).verbose_name,
+                            'name': apps.get_app_config(app_label).verbose_name,
                             'app_label': app_label,
                             'app_url': reverse('admin:app_list', kwargs={'app_label': app_label}, current_app=self.name),
                             'has_module_perms': has_module_perms,
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ class AdminSite(object):
 
     def app_index(self, request, app_label, extra_context=None):
         user = request.user
-        app_name = app_cache.get_app_config(app_label).verbose_name
+        app_name = apps.get_app_config(app_label).verbose_name
         has_module_perms = user.has_module_perms(app_label)
         if not has_module_perms:
             raise PermissionDenied
diff --git a/django/contrib/admin/templatetags/admin_static.py b/django/contrib/admin/templatetags/admin_static.py
index 7c7a5e5654..446ab4cab5 100644
--- a/django/contrib/admin/templatetags/admin_static.py
+++ b/django/contrib/admin/templatetags/admin_static.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.template import Library
 
 register = Library()
 
-if app_cache.has_app('django.contrib.staticfiles'):
+if apps.has_app('django.contrib.staticfiles'):
     from django.contrib.staticfiles.templatetags.staticfiles import static
 else:
     from django.templatetags.static import static
diff --git a/django/contrib/admin/validation.py b/django/contrib/admin/validation.py
index 18e3ad48f8..23dba7c7bd 100644
--- a/django/contrib/admin/validation.py
+++ b/django/contrib/admin/validation.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.core.exceptions import ImproperlyConfigured
 from django.db import models
 from django.db.models.fields import FieldDoesNotExist
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ __all__ = ['BaseValidator', 'InlineValidator']
 
 class BaseValidator(object):
     def __init__(self):
-        # Before we can introspect models, they need the app cache to be fully
-        # loaded so that inter-relations are set up correctly.
-        app_cache.populate_models()
+        # Before we can introspect models, they need the app registry to be
+        # fully loaded so that inter-relations are set up correctly.
+        apps.populate_models()
 
     def validate(self, cls, model):
         for m in dir(self):
diff --git a/django/contrib/admindocs/views.py b/django/contrib/admindocs/views.py
index 973c81ddaf..ebb7687dea 100644
--- a/django/contrib/admindocs/views.py
+++ b/django/contrib/admindocs/views.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import re
 import warnings
 
 from django import template
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.contrib import admin
 from django.contrib.admin.views.decorators import staff_member_required
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ class ModelIndexView(BaseAdminDocsView):
     template_name = 'admin_doc/model_index.html'
 
     def get_context_data(self, **kwargs):
-        m_list = [m._meta for m in app_cache.get_models()]
+        m_list = [m._meta for m in apps.get_models()]
         kwargs.update({'models': m_list})
         return super(ModelIndexView, self).get_context_data(**kwargs)
 
@@ -185,10 +185,10 @@ class ModelDetailView(BaseAdminDocsView):
     def get_context_data(self, **kwargs):
         # Get the model class.
         try:
-            app_cache.get_app_config(self.kwargs['app_label'])
+            apps.get_app_config(self.kwargs['app_label'])
         except LookupError:
             raise Http404(_("App %(app_label)r not found") % self.kwargs)
-        model = app_cache.get_model(self.kwargs['app_label'], self.kwargs['model_name'])
+        model = apps.get_model(self.kwargs['app_label'], self.kwargs['model_name'])
         if model is None:
             raise Http404(_("Model %(model_name)r not found in app %(app_label)r") % self.kwargs)
 
diff --git a/django/contrib/auth/__init__.py b/django/contrib/auth/__init__.py
index 3c5a40c184..ef44737cc0 100644
--- a/django/contrib/auth/__init__.py
+++ b/django/contrib/auth/__init__.py
@@ -123,13 +123,13 @@ def get_user_model():
     """
     Returns the User model that is active in this project.
     """
-    from django.apps import app_cache
+    from django.apps import apps
 
     try:
         app_label, model_name = settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL.split('.')
     except ValueError:
         raise ImproperlyConfigured("AUTH_USER_MODEL must be of the form 'app_label.model_name'")
-    user_model = app_cache.get_model(app_label, model_name)
+    user_model = apps.get_model(app_label, model_name)
     if user_model is None:
         raise ImproperlyConfigured("AUTH_USER_MODEL refers to model '%s' that has not been installed" % settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL)
     return user_model
diff --git a/django/contrib/auth/management/__init__.py b/django/contrib/auth/management/__init__.py
index 008661fac6..c2111e3b98 100644
--- a/django/contrib/auth/management/__init__.py
+++ b/django/contrib/auth/management/__init__.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 import getpass
 import unicodedata
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.contrib.auth import (models as auth_app, get_permission_codename,
     get_user_model)
 from django.core import exceptions
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ def _check_permission_clashing(custom, builtin, ctype):
 
 
 def create_permissions(app, created_models, verbosity, db=DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS, **kwargs):
-    if app_cache.get_model('auth', 'Permission') is None:
+    if apps.get_model('auth', 'Permission') is None:
         return
 
     if not router.allow_migrate(db, auth_app.Permission):
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ def create_permissions(app, created_models, verbosity, db=DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS, **kw
 
     from django.contrib.contenttypes.models import ContentType
 
-    app_models = app_cache.get_models(app)
+    app_models = apps.get_models(app)
 
     # This will hold the permissions we're looking for as
     # (content_type, (codename, name))
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ def create_permissions(app, created_models, verbosity, db=DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS, **kw
 
 
 def create_superuser(app, created_models, verbosity, db, **kwargs):
-    if app_cache.get_model('auth', 'Permission') is None:
+    if apps.get_model('auth', 'Permission') is None:
         return
 
     UserModel = get_user_model()
diff --git a/django/contrib/auth/tests/test_management.py b/django/contrib/auth/tests/test_management.py
index 57c986ac8a..838c8650fc 100644
--- a/django/contrib/auth/tests/test_management.py
+++ b/django/contrib/auth/tests/test_management.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 from datetime import date
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.contrib.auth import models, management
 from django.contrib.auth.management import create_permissions
 from django.contrib.auth.management.commands import changepassword
@@ -183,21 +183,21 @@ class CustomUserModelValidationTestCase(TestCase):
     def test_required_fields_is_list(self):
         "REQUIRED_FIELDS should be a list."
         new_io = StringIO()
-        get_validation_errors(new_io, app_cache.get_app_config('auth').models_module)
+        get_validation_errors(new_io, apps.get_app_config('auth').models_module)
         self.assertIn("The REQUIRED_FIELDS must be a list or tuple.", new_io.getvalue())
 
     @override_settings(AUTH_USER_MODEL='auth.CustomUserBadRequiredFields')
     def test_username_not_in_required_fields(self):
         "USERNAME_FIELD should not appear in REQUIRED_FIELDS."
         new_io = StringIO()
-        get_validation_errors(new_io, app_cache.get_app_config('auth').models_module)
+        get_validation_errors(new_io, apps.get_app_config('auth').models_module)
         self.assertIn("The field named as the USERNAME_FIELD should not be included in REQUIRED_FIELDS on a swappable User model.", new_io.getvalue())
 
     @override_settings(AUTH_USER_MODEL='auth.CustomUserNonUniqueUsername')
     def test_username_non_unique(self):
         "A non-unique USERNAME_FIELD should raise a model validation error."
         new_io = StringIO()
-        get_validation_errors(new_io, app_cache.get_app_config('auth').models_module)
+        get_validation_errors(new_io, apps.get_app_config('auth').models_module)
         self.assertIn("The USERNAME_FIELD must be unique. Add unique=True to the field parameters.", new_io.getvalue())
 
 
diff --git a/django/contrib/comments/__init__.py b/django/contrib/comments/__init__.py
index f265875c36..a6286b48ed 100644
--- a/django/contrib/comments/__init__.py
+++ b/django/contrib/comments/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from importlib import import_module
 import warnings
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.core import urlresolvers
 from django.core.exceptions import ImproperlyConfigured
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ def get_comment_app():
     Get the comment app (i.e. "django.contrib.comments") as defined in the settings
     """
     try:
-        app_config = app_cache.get_app_config(get_comment_app_name().rpartition(".")[2])
+        app_config = apps.get_app_config(get_comment_app_name().rpartition(".")[2])
     except LookupError:
         raise ImproperlyConfigured("The COMMENTS_APP (%r) "
                                    "must be in INSTALLED_APPS" % settings.COMMENTS_APP)
diff --git a/django/contrib/comments/views/comments.py b/django/contrib/comments/views/comments.py
index 5d7c543adb..bad8eb50f7 100644
--- a/django/contrib/comments/views/comments.py
+++ b/django/contrib/comments/views/comments.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from django import http
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.contrib import comments
 from django.contrib.comments import signals
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ def post_comment(request, next=None, using=None):
     if ctype is None or object_pk is None:
         return CommentPostBadRequest("Missing content_type or object_pk field.")
     try:
-        model = app_cache.get_model(*ctype.split(".", 1))
+        model = apps.get_model(*ctype.split(".", 1))
         target = model._default_manager.using(using).get(pk=object_pk)
     except TypeError:
         return CommentPostBadRequest(
diff --git a/django/contrib/contenttypes/management.py b/django/contrib/contenttypes/management.py
index 4ea10ebe58..87171b1ff2 100644
--- a/django/contrib/contenttypes/management.py
+++ b/django/contrib/contenttypes/management.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.contrib.contenttypes.models import ContentType
 from django.db import DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS, router
 from django.db.models import signals
@@ -12,14 +12,14 @@ def update_contenttypes(app, created_models, verbosity=2, db=DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS, *
     Creates content types for models in the given app, removing any model
     entries that no longer have a matching model class.
     """
-    if app_cache.get_model('contenttypes', 'ContentType') is None:
+    if apps.get_model('contenttypes', 'ContentType') is None:
         return
 
     if not router.allow_migrate(db, ContentType):
         return
 
     ContentType.objects.clear_cache()
-    app_models = app_cache.get_models(app)
+    app_models = apps.get_models(app)
     if not app_models:
         return
     # They all have the same app_label, get the first one.
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ If you're unsure, answer 'no'.
 
 
 def update_all_contenttypes(verbosity=2, **kwargs):
-    for app_config in app_cache.get_app_configs(only_with_models_module=True):
+    for app_config in apps.get_app_configs(only_with_models_module=True):
         update_contenttypes(app_config.models_module, None, verbosity, **kwargs)
 
 signals.post_migrate.connect(update_contenttypes)
diff --git a/django/contrib/contenttypes/models.py b/django/contrib/contenttypes/models.py
index 90dea5b811..6df1087cae 100644
--- a/django/contrib/contenttypes/models.py
+++ b/django/contrib/contenttypes/models.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.db import models
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 from django.utils.encoding import smart_text, force_text
@@ -157,8 +157,7 @@ class ContentType(models.Model):
 
     def model_class(self):
         "Returns the Python model class for this type of content."
-        return app_cache.get_model(self.app_label, self.model,
-                                only_installed=False)
+        return apps.get_model(self.app_label, self.model, only_installed=False)
 
     def get_object_for_this_type(self, **kwargs):
         """
diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/sitemaps/kml.py b/django/contrib/gis/sitemaps/kml.py
index 1e4fc82550..74d7acd772 100644
--- a/django/contrib/gis/sitemaps/kml.py
+++ b/django/contrib/gis/sitemaps/kml.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.core import urlresolvers
 from django.contrib.sitemaps import Sitemap
 from django.contrib.gis.db.models.fields import GeometryField
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class KMLSitemap(Sitemap):
         """
         kml_sources = []
         if sources is None:
-            sources = app_cache.get_models()
+            sources = apps.get_models()
         for source in sources:
             if isinstance(source, models.base.ModelBase):
                 for field in source._meta.fields:
diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/sitemaps/views.py b/django/contrib/gis/sitemaps/views.py
index e68523981e..20a91130bb 100644
--- a/django/contrib/gis/sitemaps/views.py
+++ b/django/contrib/gis/sitemaps/views.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 import warnings
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.http import HttpResponse, Http404
 from django.template import loader
 from django.contrib.sites.models import get_current_site
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ def kml(request, label, model, field_name=None, compress=False, using=DEFAULT_DB
     must be that of a geographic field.
     """
     placemarks = []
-    klass = app_cache.get_model(label, model)
+    klass = apps.get_model(label, model)
     if not klass:
         raise Http404('You must supply a valid app label and module name.  Got "%s.%s"' % (label, model))
 
diff --git a/django/contrib/messages/tests/base.py b/django/contrib/messages/tests/base.py
index 54592e8d25..7244a6d34e 100644
--- a/django/contrib/messages/tests/base.py
+++ b/django/contrib/messages/tests/base.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from unittest import skipUnless
 
 from django import http
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.conf import global_settings
 from django.contrib.messages import constants, utils, get_level, set_level
 from django.contrib.messages.api import MessageFailure
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy
 
 def skipUnlessAuthIsInstalled(func):
     return skipUnless(
-        app_cache.has_app('django.contrib.auth'),
+        apps.has_app('django.contrib.auth'),
         "django.contrib.auth isn't installed")(func)
 
 
diff --git a/django/contrib/redirects/middleware.py b/django/contrib/redirects/middleware.py
index c5b672659e..52c9a49a8f 100644
--- a/django/contrib/redirects/middleware.py
+++ b/django/contrib/redirects/middleware.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.contrib.redirects.models import Redirect
 from django.contrib.sites.models import get_current_site
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ class RedirectFallbackMiddleware(object):
     response_redirect_class = http.HttpResponsePermanentRedirect
 
     def __init__(self):
-        if not app_cache.has_app('django.contrib.sites'):
+        if not apps.has_app('django.contrib.sites'):
             raise ImproperlyConfigured(
                 "You cannot use RedirectFallbackMiddleware when "
                 "django.contrib.sites is not installed."
diff --git a/django/contrib/sitemaps/tests/test_flatpages.py b/django/contrib/sitemaps/tests/test_flatpages.py
index 90172e558f..4e9deb8de4 100644
--- a/django/contrib/sitemaps/tests/test_flatpages.py
+++ b/django/contrib/sitemaps/tests/test_flatpages.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 from unittest import skipUnless
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.conf import settings
 
 from .base import SitemapTestsBase
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ from .base import SitemapTestsBase
 
 class FlatpagesSitemapTests(SitemapTestsBase):
 
-    @skipUnless(app_cache.has_app('django.contrib.flatpages'),
+    @skipUnless(apps.has_app('django.contrib.flatpages'),
                 "django.contrib.flatpages app not installed.")
     def test_flatpage_sitemap(self):
         "Basic FlatPage sitemap test"
diff --git a/django/contrib/sitemaps/tests/test_http.py b/django/contrib/sitemaps/tests/test_http.py
index 583b0b44bf..e8c3409c74 100644
--- a/django/contrib/sitemaps/tests/test_http.py
+++ b/django/contrib/sitemaps/tests/test_http.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import os
 from datetime import date
 from unittest import skipUnless
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.contrib.sitemaps import Sitemap, GenericSitemap
 from django.contrib.sites.models import Site
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ class HTTPSitemapTests(SitemapTestsBase):
 """ % date.today()
         self.assertXMLEqual(response.content.decode('utf-8'), expected_content)
 
-    @skipUnless(app_cache.has_app('django.contrib.sites'),
+    @skipUnless(apps.has_app('django.contrib.sites'),
                 "django.contrib.sites app not installed.")
     def test_sitemap_get_urls_no_site_1(self):
         """
diff --git a/django/contrib/staticfiles/finders.py b/django/contrib/staticfiles/finders.py
index de907ef8ef..eede6fbaa8 100644
--- a/django/contrib/staticfiles/finders.py
+++ b/django/contrib/staticfiles/finders.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from collections import OrderedDict
 import os
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.core.exceptions import ImproperlyConfigured
 from django.core.files.storage import default_storage, Storage, FileSystemStorage
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class FileSystemFinder(BaseFinder):
     A static files finder that uses the ``STATICFILES_DIRS`` setting
     to locate files.
     """
-    def __init__(self, apps=None, *args, **kwargs):
+    def __init__(self, app_names=None, *args, **kwargs):
         # List of locations with static files
         self.locations = []
         # Maps dir paths to an appropriate storage instance
@@ -114,15 +114,15 @@ class AppDirectoriesFinder(BaseFinder):
     """
     storage_class = AppStaticStorage
 
-    def __init__(self, apps=None, *args, **kwargs):
+    def __init__(self, app_names=None, *args, **kwargs):
         # The list of apps that are handled
         self.apps = []
         # Mapping of app names to storage instances
         self.storages = OrderedDict()
-        if apps is None:
-            app_configs = app_cache.get_app_configs()
-            apps = [app_config.name for app_config in app_configs]
-        for app in apps:
+        if app_names is None:
+            app_configs = apps.get_app_configs()
+            app_names = [app_config.name for app_config in app_configs]
+        for app in app_names:
             app_storage = self.storage_class(app)
             if os.path.isdir(app_storage.location):
                 self.storages[app] = app_storage
diff --git a/django/core/checks/compatibility/django_1_6_0.py b/django/core/checks/compatibility/django_1_6_0.py
index a42249de60..1be727f70d 100644
--- a/django/core/checks/compatibility/django_1_6_0.py
+++ b/django/core/checks/compatibility/django_1_6_0.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.db import models
 
 
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ def check_boolean_field_default_value():
     warns the user that the default has changed from False to Null.
     """
     fields = []
-    for cls in app_cache.get_models():
+    for cls in apps.get_models():
         opts = cls._meta
         for f in opts.local_fields:
             if isinstance(f, models.BooleanField) and not f.has_default():
diff --git a/django/core/management/__init__.py b/django/core/management/__init__.py
index bc81b8f9d2..019837b35c 100644
--- a/django/core/management/__init__.py
+++ b/django/core/management/__init__.py
@@ -112,17 +112,17 @@ def get_commands():
         except ImproperlyConfigured:
             # Still useful for commands that do not require functional
             # settings, like startproject or help.
-            apps = []
+            app_names = []
         else:
-            # Populate the app cache outside of the try/except block to avoid
-            # catching ImproperlyConfigured errors that aren't caused by the
-            # absence of a settings module.
-            from django.apps import app_cache
-            app_configs = app_cache.get_app_configs()
-            apps = [app_config.name for app_config in app_configs]
+            # Populate the app registry outside of the try/except block to
+            # avoid catching ImproperlyConfigured errors that aren't caused
+            # by the absence of a settings module.
+            from django.apps import apps
+            app_configs = apps.get_app_configs()
+            app_names = [app_config.name for app_config in app_configs]
 
         # Find and load the management module for each installed app.
-        for app_name in apps:
+        for app_name in app_names:
             try:
                 path = find_management_module(app_name)
                 _commands.update(dict((name, app_name) for name in find_commands(path)))
@@ -346,8 +346,8 @@ class ManagementUtility(object):
             elif cwords[0] in ('dumpdata', 'sql', 'sqlall', 'sqlclear',
                     'sqlcustom', 'sqlindexes', 'sqlsequencereset', 'test'):
                 try:
-                    from django.apps import app_cache
-                    app_configs = app_cache.get_app_configs()
+                    from django.apps import apps
+                    app_configs = apps.get_app_configs()
                     # Get the last part of the dotted path as the app name.
                     options += [(app_config.label, 0) for app_config in app_configs]
                 except ImportError:
diff --git a/django/core/management/base.py b/django/core/management/base.py
index 101a486b40..5c3a1a6c8c 100644
--- a/django/core/management/base.py
+++ b/django/core/management/base.py
@@ -341,16 +341,16 @@ class AppCommand(BaseCommand):
     args = '<appname appname ...>'
 
     def handle(self, *app_labels, **options):
-        from django.apps import app_cache
+        from django.apps import apps
         if not app_labels:
             raise CommandError('Enter at least one appname.')
         # Populate models and don't use only_with_models_module=True when
         # calling get_app_config() to tell apart missing apps from apps
         # without a model module -- which can't be supported with the legacy
         # API since it passes the models module to handle_app().
-        app_cache.populate_models()
+        apps.populate_models()
         try:
-            app_configs = [app_cache.get_app_config(app_label) for app_label in app_labels]
+            app_configs = [apps.get_app_config(app_label) for app_label in app_labels]
         except (LookupError, ImportError) as e:
             raise CommandError("%s. Are you sure your INSTALLED_APPS setting is correct?" % e)
         output = []
diff --git a/django/core/management/commands/dumpdata.py b/django/core/management/commands/dumpdata.py
index 9aebb6c7d6..f6b9e7a4c8 100644
--- a/django/core/management/commands/dumpdata.py
+++ b/django/core/management/commands/dumpdata.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
     args = '[appname appname.ModelName ...]'
 
     def handle(self, *app_labels, **options):
-        from django.apps import app_cache
+        from django.apps import apps
 
         format = options.get('format')
         indent = options.get('indent')
@@ -63,13 +63,13 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         for exclude in excludes:
             if '.' in exclude:
                 app_label, model_name = exclude.split('.', 1)
-                model_obj = app_cache.get_model(app_label, model_name)
+                model_obj = apps.get_model(app_label, model_name)
                 if not model_obj:
                     raise CommandError('Unknown model in excludes: %s' % exclude)
                 excluded_models.add(model_obj)
             else:
                 try:
-                    app_obj = app_cache.get_app_config(exclude).models_module
+                    app_obj = apps.get_app_config(exclude).models_module
                     if app_obj is not None:
                         excluded_apps.add(app_obj)
                 except LookupError:
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
             if primary_keys:
                 raise CommandError("You can only use --pks option with one model")
             app_list = OrderedDict((app_config.models_module, None)
-                for app_config in app_cache.get_app_configs(only_with_models_module=True)
+                for app_config in apps.get_app_configs(only_with_models_module=True)
                 if app_config.models_module not in excluded_apps)
         else:
             if len(app_labels) > 1 and primary_keys:
@@ -89,12 +89,12 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                 try:
                     app_label, model_label = label.split('.')
                     try:
-                        app = app_cache.get_app_config(app_label).models_module
+                        app = apps.get_app_config(app_label).models_module
                     except LookupError:
                         raise CommandError("Unknown application: %s" % app_label)
                     if app is None or app in excluded_apps:
                         continue
-                    model = app_cache.get_model(app_label, model_label)
+                    model = apps.get_model(app_label, model_label)
                     if model is None:
                         raise CommandError("Unknown model: %s.%s" % (app_label, model_label))
 
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                     # This is just an app - no model qualifier
                     app_label = label
                     try:
-                        app = app_cache.get_app_config(app_label).models_module
+                        app = apps.get_app_config(app_label).models_module
                     except LookupError:
                         raise CommandError("Unknown application: %s" % app_label)
                     if app is None or app in excluded_apps:
@@ -162,13 +162,13 @@ def sort_dependencies(app_list):
     is serialized before a normal model, and any model with a natural key
     dependency has it's dependencies serialized first.
     """
-    from django.apps import app_cache
+    from django.apps import apps
     # Process the list of models, and get the list of dependencies
     model_dependencies = []
     models = set()
     for app, model_list in app_list:
         if model_list is None:
-            model_list = app_cache.get_models(app)
+            model_list = apps.get_models(app)
 
         for model in model_list:
             models.add(model)
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ def sort_dependencies(app_list):
             if hasattr(model, 'natural_key'):
                 deps = getattr(model.natural_key, 'dependencies', [])
                 if deps:
-                    deps = [app_cache.get_model(*d.split('.')) for d in deps]
+                    deps = [apps.get_model(*d.split('.')) for d in deps]
             else:
                 deps = []
 
diff --git a/django/core/management/commands/flush.py b/django/core/management/commands/flush.py
index 49007bf0a2..619df9536c 100644
--- a/django/core/management/commands/flush.py
+++ b/django/core/management/commands/flush.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import sys
 from importlib import import_module
 from optparse import make_option
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.db import connections, router, transaction, DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS
 from django.core.management import call_command
 from django.core.management.base import NoArgsCommand, CommandError
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ class Command(NoArgsCommand):
 
         # Import the 'management' module within each installed app, to register
         # dispatcher events.
-        for app_config in app_cache.get_app_configs():
+        for app_config in apps.get_app_configs():
             try:
                 import_module('.management', app_config.name)
             except ImportError:
@@ -93,6 +93,6 @@ Are you sure you want to do this?
         # Emit the post migrate signal. This allows individual applications to
         # respond as if the database had been migrated from scratch.
         all_models = []
-        for app_config in app_cache.get_app_configs(only_with_models_module=True):
+        for app_config in apps.get_app_configs(only_with_models_module=True):
             all_models.extend(router.get_migratable_models(app_config.models_module, database, include_auto_created=True))
         emit_post_migrate_signal(set(all_models), verbosity, interactive, database)
diff --git a/django/core/management/commands/loaddata.py b/django/core/management/commands/loaddata.py
index bfeba68aa6..65bc96ba99 100644
--- a/django/core/management/commands/loaddata.py
+++ b/django/core/management/commands/loaddata.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import warnings
 import zipfile
 from optparse import make_option
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.core import serializers
 from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand, CommandError
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         current directory.
         """
         dirs = []
-        for app_config in app_cache.get_app_configs():
+        for app_config in apps.get_app_configs():
             d = os.path.join(app_config.path, 'fixtures')
             if os.path.isdir(d):
                 dirs.append(d)
diff --git a/django/core/management/commands/makemigrations.py b/django/core/management/commands/makemigrations.py
index aaf0270840..411aec42b3 100644
--- a/django/core/management/commands/makemigrations.py
+++ b/django/core/management/commands/makemigrations.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import os
 import operator
 from optparse import make_option
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand, CommandError
 from django.db import connections, DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS, migrations
 from django.db.migrations.loader import MigrationLoader
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         bad_app_labels = set()
         for app_label in app_labels:
             try:
-                app_cache.get_app_config(app_label)
+                apps.get_app_config(app_label)
             except LookupError:
                 bad_app_labels.add(app_label)
         if bad_app_labels:
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         # Detect changes
         autodetector = MigrationAutodetector(
             loader.graph.project_state(),
-            ProjectState.from_app_cache(app_cache),
+            ProjectState.from_apps(apps),
             InteractiveMigrationQuestioner(specified_apps=app_labels),
         )
         changes = autodetector.changes(graph=loader.graph, trim_to_apps=app_labels or None)
diff --git a/django/core/management/commands/migrate.py b/django/core/management/commands/migrate.py
index 05b4a62e87..1f5e9619c7 100644
--- a/django/core/management/commands/migrate.py
+++ b/django/core/management/commands/migrate.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from importlib import import_module
 import itertools
 import traceback
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.core.management import call_command
 from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand, CommandError
 from django.core.management.color import no_style
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
 
         # Import the 'management' module within each installed app, to register
         # dispatcher events.
-        for app_config in app_cache.get_app_configs():
+        for app_config in apps.get_app_configs():
             if module_has_submodule(app_config.app_module, "management"):
                 import_module('.management', app_config.name)
 
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                 # If there's changes that aren't in migrations yet, tell them how to fix it.
                 autodetector = MigrationAutodetector(
                     executor.loader.graph.project_state(),
-                    ProjectState.from_app_cache(app_cache),
+                    ProjectState.from_apps(apps),
                 )
                 changes = autodetector.changes(graph=executor.loader.graph)
                 if changes:
@@ -167,8 +167,8 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                 else:
                     self.stdout.write(self.style.MIGRATE_SUCCESS(" OK"))
 
-    def sync_apps(self, connection, apps):
-        "Runs the old syncdb-style operation on a list of apps."
+    def sync_apps(self, connection, app_labels):
+        "Runs the old syncdb-style operation on a list of app_labels."
         cursor = connection.cursor()
 
         # Get a list of already installed *models* so that references work right.
@@ -181,8 +181,8 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         all_models = [
             (app_config.label,
                 router.get_migratable_models(app_config.models_module, connection.alias, include_auto_created=True))
-            for app_config in app_cache.get_app_configs(only_with_models_module=True)
-            if app_config.label in apps
+            for app_config in apps.get_app_configs(only_with_models_module=True)
+            if app_config.label in app_labels
         ]
 
         def model_installed(model):
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
 
         return created_models
 
-    def show_migration_list(self, connection, apps=None):
+    def show_migration_list(self, connection, app_names=None):
         """
         Shows a list of all migrations on the system, or only those of
         some named apps.
@@ -286,24 +286,24 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         loader = MigrationLoader(connection)
         graph = loader.graph
         # If we were passed a list of apps, validate it
-        if apps:
+        if app_names:
             invalid_apps = []
-            for app in apps:
-                if app not in loader.migrated_apps:
-                    invalid_apps.append(app)
+            for app_name in app_names:
+                if app_name not in loader.migrated_apps:
+                    invalid_apps.append(app_name)
             if invalid_apps:
                 raise CommandError("No migrations present for: %s" % (", ".join(invalid_apps)))
         # Otherwise, show all apps in alphabetic order
         else:
-            apps = sorted(loader.migrated_apps)
+            app_names = sorted(loader.migrated_apps)
         # For each app, print its migrations in order from oldest (roots) to
         # newest (leaves).
-        for app in apps:
-            self.stdout.write(app, self.style.MIGRATE_LABEL)
+        for app_name in app_names:
+            self.stdout.write(app_name, self.style.MIGRATE_LABEL)
             shown = set()
-            for node in graph.leaf_nodes(app):
+            for node in graph.leaf_nodes(app_name):
                 for plan_node in graph.forwards_plan(node):
-                    if plan_node not in shown and plan_node[0] == app:
+                    if plan_node not in shown and plan_node[0] == app_name:
                         # Give it a nice title if it's a squashed one
                         title = plan_node[1]
                         if graph.nodes[plan_node].replaces:
diff --git a/django/core/management/commands/shell.py b/django/core/management/commands/shell.py
index 12af814161..149b9edd89 100644
--- a/django/core/management/commands/shell.py
+++ b/django/core/management/commands/shell.py
@@ -66,8 +66,8 @@ class Command(NoArgsCommand):
     def handle_noargs(self, **options):
         # XXX: (Temporary) workaround for ticket #1796: force early loading of all
         # models from installed apps.
-        from django.apps import app_cache
-        app_cache.get_models()
+        from django.apps import apps
+        apps.get_models()
 
         use_plain = options.get('plain', False)
         no_startup = options.get('no_startup', False)
diff --git a/django/core/management/commands/sqlsequencereset.py b/django/core/management/commands/sqlsequencereset.py
index 24ec25e8ed..58f171e87b 100644
--- a/django/core/management/commands/sqlsequencereset.py
+++ b/django/core/management/commands/sqlsequencereset.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 from optparse import make_option
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.core.management.base import AppCommand
 from django.db import connections, DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS
 
@@ -21,4 +21,4 @@ class Command(AppCommand):
 
     def handle_app(self, app, **options):
         connection = connections[options.get('database')]
-        return '\n'.join(connection.ops.sequence_reset_sql(self.style, app_cache.get_models(app, include_auto_created=True)))
+        return '\n'.join(connection.ops.sequence_reset_sql(self.style, apps.get_models(app, include_auto_created=True)))
diff --git a/django/core/management/sql.py b/django/core/management/sql.py
index b2500d3787..35ce693e3b 100644
--- a/django/core/management/sql.py
+++ b/django/core/management/sql.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import os
 import re
 import warnings
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.core.management.base import CommandError
 from django.db import models, router
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ def sql_create(app, style, connection):
     # We trim models from the current app so that the sqlreset command does not
     # generate invalid SQL (leaving models out of known_models is harmless, so
     # we can be conservative).
-    app_models = app_cache.get_models(app, include_auto_created=True)
+    app_models = apps.get_models(app, include_auto_created=True)
     final_output = []
     tables = connection.introspection.table_names()
     known_models = set(model for model in connection.introspection.installed_models(tables) if model not in app_models)
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ def _split_statements(content):
 def custom_sql_for_model(model, style, connection):
     opts = model._meta
     app_dirs = []
-    app_dir = app_cache.get_app_config(model._meta.app_label).path
+    app_dir = apps.get_app_config(model._meta.app_label).path
     app_dirs.append(os.path.normpath(os.path.join(app_dir, 'sql')))
 
     # Deprecated location -- remove in Django 1.9
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ def custom_sql_for_model(model, style, connection):
 
 def emit_pre_migrate_signal(create_models, verbosity, interactive, db):
     # Emit the pre_migrate signal for every application.
-    for app_config in app_cache.get_app_configs(only_with_models_module=True):
+    for app_config in apps.get_app_configs(only_with_models_module=True):
         if verbosity >= 2:
             print("Running pre-migrate handlers for application %s" % app_config.label)
         models.signals.pre_migrate.send(
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ def emit_pre_migrate_signal(create_models, verbosity, interactive, db):
 
 def emit_post_migrate_signal(created_models, verbosity, interactive, db):
     # Emit the post_migrate signal for every application.
-    for app_config in app_cache.get_app_configs(only_with_models_module=True):
+    for app_config in apps.get_app_configs(only_with_models_module=True):
         if verbosity >= 2:
             print("Running post-migrate handlers for application %s" % app_config.label)
         models.signals.post_migrate.send(
diff --git a/django/core/management/validation.py b/django/core/management/validation.py
index 2b27a7edce..c3b55770ce 100644
--- a/django/core/management/validation.py
+++ b/django/core/management/validation.py
@@ -26,13 +26,13 @@ def get_validation_errors(outfile, app=None):
     validates all models of all installed apps. Writes errors, if any, to outfile.
     Returns number of errors.
     """
-    from django.apps import app_cache
+    from django.apps import apps
     from django.db import connection, models
     from django.db.models.deletion import SET_NULL, SET_DEFAULT
 
     e = ModelErrorCollection(outfile)
 
-    for cls in app_cache.get_models(app, include_swapped=True):
+    for cls in apps.get_models(app, include_swapped=True):
         opts = cls._meta
 
         # Check swappable attribute.
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ def get_validation_errors(outfile, app=None):
             except ValueError:
                 e.add(opts, "%s is not of the form 'app_label.app_name'." % opts.swappable)
                 continue
-            if not app_cache.get_model(app_label, model_name):
+            if not apps.get_model(app_label, model_name):
                 e.add(opts, "Model has been swapped out for '%s' which has not been installed or is abstract." % opts.swapped)
             # No need to perform any other validation checks on a swapped model.
             continue
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ def get_validation_errors(outfile, app=None):
             # Check to see if the related field will clash with any existing
             # fields, m2m fields, m2m related objects or related objects
             if f.rel:
-                if f.rel.to not in app_cache.get_models():
+                if f.rel.to not in apps.get_models():
                     # If the related model is swapped, provide a hint;
                     # otherwise, the model just hasn't been installed.
                     if not isinstance(f.rel.to, six.string_types) and f.rel.to._meta.swapped:
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ def get_validation_errors(outfile, app=None):
             # Check to see if the related m2m field will clash with any
             # existing fields, m2m fields, m2m related objects or related
             # objects
-            if f.rel.to not in app_cache.get_models():
+            if f.rel.to not in apps.get_models():
                 # If the related model is swapped, provide a hint;
                 # otherwise, the model just hasn't been installed.
                 if not isinstance(f.rel.to, six.string_types) and f.rel.to._meta.swapped:
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ def get_validation_errors(outfile, app=None):
                                 )
                             else:
                                 seen_to = True
-                if f.rel.through not in app_cache.get_models(include_auto_created=True):
+                if f.rel.through not in apps.get_models(include_auto_created=True):
                     e.add(opts, "'%s' specifies an m2m relation through model "
                         "%s, which has not been installed." % (f.name, f.rel.through))
                 signature = (f.rel.to, cls, f.rel.through)
diff --git a/django/core/serializers/base.py b/django/core/serializers/base.py
index d516656a69..70bc651f82 100644
--- a/django/core/serializers/base.py
+++ b/django/core/serializers/base.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ Module for abstract serializer/unserializer base classes.
 """
 import warnings
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.db import models
 from django.utils import six
 
@@ -137,9 +137,9 @@ class Deserializer(six.Iterator):
             self.stream = six.StringIO(stream_or_string)
         else:
             self.stream = stream_or_string
-        # Make sure the app cache is loaded before deserialization starts
+        # Make sure the app registy is loaded before deserialization starts
         # (otherwise subclass calls to get_model() and friends might fail...)
-        app_cache.populate_models()
+        apps.populate_models()
 
     def __iter__(self):
         return self
diff --git a/django/core/serializers/python.py b/django/core/serializers/python.py
index c8a2b7eff2..a46adeef7a 100644
--- a/django/core/serializers/python.py
+++ b/django/core/serializers/python.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ other serializers.
 """
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.core.serializers import base
 from django.db import models, DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ def Deserializer(object_list, **options):
     db = options.pop('using', DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS)
     ignore = options.pop('ignorenonexistent', False)
 
-    app_cache.populate_models()
+    apps.populate_models()
 
     for d in object_list:
         # Look up the model and starting build a dict of data for it.
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ def _get_model(model_identifier):
     Helper to look up a model from an "app_label.model_name" string.
     """
     try:
-        Model = app_cache.get_model(*model_identifier.split("."))
+        Model = apps.get_model(*model_identifier.split("."))
     except TypeError:
         Model = None
     if Model is None:
diff --git a/django/core/serializers/xml_serializer.py b/django/core/serializers/xml_serializer.py
index e9bea84bb1..81e41f8a32 100644
--- a/django/core/serializers/xml_serializer.py
+++ b/django/core/serializers/xml_serializer.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ XML serializer.
 
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.core.serializers import base
 from django.db import models, DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ class Deserializer(base.Deserializer):
                 "<%s> node is missing the required '%s' attribute"
                 % (node.nodeName, attr))
         try:
-            Model = app_cache.get_model(*model_identifier.split("."))
+            Model = apps.get_model(*model_identifier.split("."))
         except TypeError:
             Model = None
         if Model is None:
diff --git a/django/db/backends/__init__.py b/django/db/backends/__init__.py
index 86905afe77..c5f650d503 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/__init__.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/__init__.py
@@ -1268,10 +1268,10 @@ class BaseDatabaseIntrospection(object):
         If only_existing is True, the resulting list will only include the tables
         that actually exist in the database.
         """
-        from django.apps import app_cache
+        from django.apps import apps
         from django.db import router
         tables = set()
-        for app_config in app_cache.get_app_configs(only_with_models_module=True):
+        for app_config in apps.get_app_configs(only_with_models_module=True):
             for model in router.get_migratable_models(app_config.models_module, self.connection.alias):
                 if not model._meta.managed:
                     continue
@@ -1289,10 +1289,10 @@ class BaseDatabaseIntrospection(object):
 
     def installed_models(self, tables):
         "Returns a set of all models represented by the provided list of table names."
-        from django.apps import app_cache
+        from django.apps import apps
         from django.db import router
         all_models = []
-        for app_config in app_cache.get_app_configs(only_with_models_module=True):
+        for app_config in apps.get_app_configs(only_with_models_module=True):
             all_models.extend(router.get_migratable_models(app_config.models_module, self.connection.alias))
         tables = list(map(self.table_name_converter, tables))
         return set([
@@ -1302,12 +1302,12 @@ class BaseDatabaseIntrospection(object):
 
     def sequence_list(self):
         "Returns a list of information about all DB sequences for all models in all apps."
-        from django.apps import app_cache
+        from django.apps import apps
         from django.db import models, router
 
         sequence_list = []
 
-        for app_config in app_cache.get_app_configs(only_with_models_module=True):
+        for app_config in apps.get_app_configs(only_with_models_module=True):
             for model in router.get_migratable_models(app_config.models_module, self.connection.alias):
                 if not model._meta.managed:
                     continue
diff --git a/django/db/backends/sqlite3/schema.py b/django/db/backends/sqlite3/schema.py
index 52ca2de8ed..3196b48946 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/sqlite3/schema.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/sqlite3/schema.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from django.apps.cache import AppCache
+from django.apps.registry import Apps
 from django.db.backends.schema import BaseDatabaseSchemaEditor
 from django.db.models.fields.related import ManyToManyField
 
@@ -38,14 +38,14 @@ class DatabaseSchemaEditor(BaseDatabaseSchemaEditor):
         for field in delete_fields:
             del body[field.name]
             del mapping[field.column]
-        # Work inside a new AppCache
-        app_cache = AppCache()
+        # Work inside a new app registry
+        apps = Apps()
         # Construct a new model for the new state
         meta_contents = {
             'app_label': model._meta.app_label,
             'db_table': model._meta.db_table + "__new",
             'unique_together': model._meta.unique_together if override_uniques is None else override_uniques,
-            'app_cache': app_cache,
+            'apps': apps,
         }
         meta = type("Meta", tuple(), meta_contents)
         body['Meta'] = meta
diff --git a/django/db/migrations/autodetector.py b/django/db/migrations/autodetector.py
index 4074366188..f71d193960 100644
--- a/django/db/migrations/autodetector.py
+++ b/django/db/migrations/autodetector.py
@@ -47,19 +47,19 @@ class MigrationAutodetector(object):
         """
         # We'll store migrations as lists by app names for now
         self.migrations = {}
-        old_app_cache = self.from_state.render()
-        new_app_cache = self.to_state.render()
+        old_apps = self.from_state.render()
+        new_apps = self.to_state.render()
         # Prepare lists of old/new model keys that we care about
         # (i.e. ignoring proxy ones)
         old_model_keys = [
             (al, mn)
             for al, mn in self.from_state.models.keys()
-            if not old_app_cache.get_model(al, mn)._meta.proxy
+            if not old_apps.get_model(al, mn)._meta.proxy
         ]
         new_model_keys = [
             (al, mn)
             for al, mn in self.to_state.models.keys()
-            if not new_app_cache.get_model(al, mn)._meta.proxy
+            if not new_apps.get_model(al, mn)._meta.proxy
         ]
         # Adding models. Phase 1 is adding models with no outward relationships.
         added_models = set(new_model_keys) - set(old_model_keys)
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ class MigrationAutodetector(object):
             model_state = self.to_state.models[app_label, model_name]
             # Are there any relationships out from this model? if so, punt it to the next phase.
             related_fields = []
-            for field in new_app_cache.get_model(app_label, model_name)._meta.local_fields:
+            for field in new_apps.get_model(app_label, model_name)._meta.local_fields:
                 if field.rel:
                     if field.rel.to:
                         related_fields.append((field.name, field.rel.to._meta.app_label.lower(), field.rel.to._meta.object_name.lower()))
diff --git a/django/db/migrations/executor.py b/django/db/migrations/executor.py
index 26d269fd9f..9ecdf771e3 100644
--- a/django/db/migrations/executor.py
+++ b/django/db/migrations/executor.py
@@ -129,10 +129,10 @@ class MigrationExecutor(object):
         on initial migrations (as it only looks for CreateModel).
         """
         project_state = self.loader.graph.project_state((migration.app_label, migration.name), at_end=True)
-        app_cache = project_state.render()
+        apps = project_state.render()
         for operation in migration.operations:
             if isinstance(operation, migrations.CreateModel):
-                model = app_cache.get_model(migration.app_label, operation.name)
+                model = apps.get_model(migration.app_label, operation.name)
                 if model._meta.db_table not in self.connection.introspection.get_table_list(self.connection.cursor()):
                     return False
         return True
diff --git a/django/db/migrations/loader.py b/django/db/migrations/loader.py
index 9a54f14e75..d24f7ab889 100644
--- a/django/db/migrations/loader.py
+++ b/django/db/migrations/loader.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ from importlib import import_module
 import os
 import sys
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.db.migrations.recorder import MigrationRecorder
 from django.db.migrations.graph import MigrationGraph
 from django.utils import six
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ class MigrationLoader(object):
         if app_label in settings.MIGRATION_MODULES:
             return settings.MIGRATION_MODULES[app_label]
         else:
-            return '%s.migrations' % app_cache.get_app_config(app_label).name
+            return '%s.migrations' % apps.get_app_config(app_label).name
 
     def load_disk(self):
         """
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ class MigrationLoader(object):
         self.disk_migrations = {}
         self.unmigrated_apps = set()
         self.migrated_apps = set()
-        for app_config in app_cache.get_app_configs(only_with_models_module=True):
+        for app_config in apps.get_app_configs(only_with_models_module=True):
             # Get the migrations module directory
             module_name = self.migrations_module(app_config.label)
             was_loaded = module_name in sys.modules
diff --git a/django/db/migrations/operations/models.py b/django/db/migrations/operations/models.py
index 8c7fe126a8..1aefbd9457 100644
--- a/django/db/migrations/operations/models.py
+++ b/django/db/migrations/operations/models.py
@@ -20,14 +20,14 @@ class CreateModel(Operation):
         state.models[app_label, self.name.lower()] = ModelState(app_label, self.name, self.fields, self.options, self.bases)
 
     def database_forwards(self, app_label, schema_editor, from_state, to_state):
-        app_cache = to_state.render()
-        model = app_cache.get_model(app_label, self.name)
+        apps = to_state.render()
+        model = apps.get_model(app_label, self.name)
         if router.allow_migrate(schema_editor.connection.alias, model):
             schema_editor.create_model(model)
 
     def database_backwards(self, app_label, schema_editor, from_state, to_state):
-        app_cache = from_state.render()
-        model = app_cache.get_model(app_label, self.name)
+        apps = from_state.render()
+        model = apps.get_model(app_label, self.name)
         if router.allow_migrate(schema_editor.connection.alias, model):
             schema_editor.delete_model(model)
 
@@ -73,14 +73,14 @@ class DeleteModel(Operation):
         del state.models[app_label, self.name.lower()]
 
     def database_forwards(self, app_label, schema_editor, from_state, to_state):
-        app_cache = from_state.render()
-        model = app_cache.get_model(app_label, self.name)
+        apps = from_state.render()
+        model = apps.get_model(app_label, self.name)
         if router.allow_migrate(schema_editor.connection.alias, model):
             schema_editor.delete_model(model)
 
     def database_backwards(self, app_label, schema_editor, from_state, to_state):
-        app_cache = to_state.render()
-        model = app_cache.get_model(app_label, self.name)
+        apps = to_state.render()
+        model = apps.get_model(app_label, self.name)
         if router.allow_migrate(schema_editor.connection.alias, model):
             schema_editor.create_model(model)
 
@@ -106,10 +106,10 @@ class RenameModel(Operation):
         del state.models[app_label, self.old_name.lower()]
 
     def database_forwards(self, app_label, schema_editor, from_state, to_state):
-        old_app_cache = from_state.render()
-        new_app_cache = to_state.render()
-        old_model = old_app_cache.get_model(app_label, self.old_name)
-        new_model = new_app_cache.get_model(app_label, self.new_name)
+        old_apps = from_state.render()
+        new_apps = to_state.render()
+        old_model = old_apps.get_model(app_label, self.old_name)
+        new_model = new_apps.get_model(app_label, self.new_name)
         if router.allow_migrate(schema_editor.connection.alias, new_model):
             schema_editor.alter_db_table(
                 new_model,
@@ -118,10 +118,10 @@ class RenameModel(Operation):
             )
 
     def database_backwards(self, app_label, schema_editor, from_state, to_state):
-        old_app_cache = from_state.render()
-        new_app_cache = to_state.render()
-        old_model = old_app_cache.get_model(app_label, self.new_name)
-        new_model = new_app_cache.get_model(app_label, self.old_name)
+        old_apps = from_state.render()
+        new_apps = to_state.render()
+        old_model = old_apps.get_model(app_label, self.new_name)
+        new_model = new_apps.get_model(app_label, self.old_name)
         if router.allow_migrate(schema_editor.connection.alias, new_model):
             schema_editor.alter_db_table(
                 new_model,
@@ -152,10 +152,10 @@ class AlterModelTable(Operation):
         state.models[app_label, self.name.lower()].options["db_table"] = self.table
 
     def database_forwards(self, app_label, schema_editor, from_state, to_state):
-        old_app_cache = from_state.render()
-        new_app_cache = to_state.render()
-        old_model = old_app_cache.get_model(app_label, self.name)
-        new_model = new_app_cache.get_model(app_label, self.name)
+        old_apps = from_state.render()
+        new_apps = to_state.render()
+        old_model = old_apps.get_model(app_label, self.name)
+        new_model = new_apps.get_model(app_label, self.name)
         if router.allow_migrate(schema_editor.connection.alias, new_model):
             schema_editor.alter_db_table(
                 new_model,
@@ -189,10 +189,10 @@ class AlterUniqueTogether(Operation):
         model_state.options["unique_together"] = self.unique_together
 
     def database_forwards(self, app_label, schema_editor, from_state, to_state):
-        old_app_cache = from_state.render()
-        new_app_cache = to_state.render()
-        old_model = old_app_cache.get_model(app_label, self.name)
-        new_model = new_app_cache.get_model(app_label, self.name)
+        old_apps = from_state.render()
+        new_apps = to_state.render()
+        old_model = old_apps.get_model(app_label, self.name)
+        new_model = new_apps.get_model(app_label, self.name)
         if router.allow_migrate(schema_editor.connection.alias, new_model):
             schema_editor.alter_unique_together(
                 new_model,
@@ -225,10 +225,10 @@ class AlterIndexTogether(Operation):
         model_state.options["index_together"] = self.index_together
 
     def database_forwards(self, app_label, schema_editor, from_state, to_state):
-        old_app_cache = from_state.render()
-        new_app_cache = to_state.render()
-        old_model = old_app_cache.get_model(app_label, self.name)
-        new_model = new_app_cache.get_model(app_label, self.name)
+        old_apps = from_state.render()
+        new_apps = to_state.render()
+        old_model = old_apps.get_model(app_label, self.name)
+        new_model = new_apps.get_model(app_label, self.name)
         if router.allow_migrate(schema_editor.connection.alias, new_model):
             schema_editor.alter_index_together(
                 new_model,
diff --git a/django/db/migrations/operations/special.py b/django/db/migrations/operations/special.py
index f48d8cab05..65fd8125fc 100644
--- a/django/db/migrations/operations/special.py
+++ b/django/db/migrations/operations/special.py
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ class RunPython(Operation):
 
     def database_forwards(self, app_label, schema_editor, from_state, to_state):
         # We now execute the Python code in a context that contains a 'models'
-        # object, representing the versioned models as an AppCache.
+        # object, representing the versioned models as an app registry.
         # We could try to override the global cache, but then people will still
         # use direct imports, so we go with a documentation approach instead.
         if callable(self.code):
diff --git a/django/db/migrations/questioner.py b/django/db/migrations/questioner.py
index 4a860dcf7e..efd75189ef 100644
--- a/django/db/migrations/questioner.py
+++ b/django/db/migrations/questioner.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import importlib
 import os
 import sys
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.utils import datetime_safe
 from django.utils.six.moves import input
 
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ class MigrationQuestioner(object):
         # Apps from the new app template will have these; the python
         # file check will ensure we skip South ones.
         try:
-            app_config = app_cache.get_app_config(app_label)
+            app_config = apps.get_app_config(app_label)
         except LookupError:         # It's a fake app.
             return self.defaults.get("ask_initial", False)
         migrations_import_path = "%s.migrations" % app_config.name
diff --git a/django/db/migrations/recorder.py b/django/db/migrations/recorder.py
index 8b0403e88f..15a3b49578 100644
--- a/django/db/migrations/recorder.py
+++ b/django/db/migrations/recorder.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from django.apps.cache import AppCache
+from django.apps.registry import Apps
 from django.db import models
 from django.utils.timezone import now
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ class MigrationRecorder(object):
         applied = models.DateTimeField(default=now)
 
         class Meta:
-            app_cache = AppCache()
+            apps = Apps()
             app_label = "migrations"
             db_table = "django_migrations"
 
diff --git a/django/db/migrations/state.py b/django/db/migrations/state.py
index a2716e864a..198b2c516c 100644
--- a/django/db/migrations/state.py
+++ b/django/db/migrations/state.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from django.apps.cache import AppCache
+from django.apps.registry import Apps
 from django.db import models
 from django.db.models.options import DEFAULT_NAMES, normalize_unique_together
 from django.utils import six
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class ProjectState(object):
 
     def __init__(self, models=None):
         self.models = models or {}
-        self.app_cache = None
+        self.apps = None
 
     def add_model_state(self, model_state):
         self.models[(model_state.app_label, model_state.name.lower())] = model_state
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@ class ProjectState(object):
         )
 
     def render(self):
-        "Turns the project state into actual models in a new AppCache"
-        if self.app_cache is None:
-            self.app_cache = AppCache()
+        "Turns the project state into actual models in a new Apps"
+        if self.apps is None:
+            self.apps = Apps()
             # We keep trying to render the models in a loop, ignoring invalid
             # base errors, until the size of the unrendered models doesn't
             # decrease by at least one, meaning there's a base dependency loop/
@@ -42,19 +42,19 @@ class ProjectState(object):
                 new_unrendered_models = []
                 for model in unrendered_models:
                     try:
-                        model.render(self.app_cache)
+                        model.render(self.apps)
                     except InvalidBasesError:
                         new_unrendered_models.append(model)
                 if len(new_unrendered_models) == len(unrendered_models):
                     raise InvalidBasesError("Cannot resolve bases for %r" % new_unrendered_models)
                 unrendered_models = new_unrendered_models
-        return self.app_cache
+        return self.apps
 
     @classmethod
-    def from_app_cache(cls, app_cache):
-        "Takes in an AppCache and returns a ProjectState matching it"
+    def from_apps(cls, apps):
+        "Takes in an Apps and returns a ProjectState matching it"
         app_models = {}
-        for model in app_cache.get_models():
+        for model in apps.get_models():
             model_state = ModelState.from_model(model)
             app_models[(model_state.app_label, model_state.name.lower())] = model_state
         return cls(app_models)
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ class ModelState(object):
         options = {}
         for name in DEFAULT_NAMES:
             # Ignore some special options
-            if name in ["app_cache", "app_label"]:
+            if name in ["apps", "app_label"]:
                 continue
             elif name in model._meta.original_attrs:
                 if name == "unique_together":
@@ -164,17 +164,17 @@ class ModelState(object):
             bases=self.bases,
         )
 
-    def render(self, app_cache):
-        "Creates a Model object from our current state into the given app_cache"
+    def render(self, apps):
+        "Creates a Model object from our current state into the given apps"
         # First, make a Meta object
-        meta_contents = {'app_label': self.app_label, "app_cache": app_cache}
+        meta_contents = {'app_label': self.app_label, "apps": apps}
         meta_contents.update(self.options)
         if "unique_together" in meta_contents:
             meta_contents["unique_together"] = list(meta_contents["unique_together"])
         meta = type("Meta", tuple(), meta_contents)
         # Then, work out our bases
         bases = tuple(
-            (app_cache.get_model(*base.split(".", 1)) if isinstance(base, six.string_types) else base)
+            (apps.get_model(*base.split(".", 1)) if isinstance(base, six.string_types) else base)
             for base in self.bases
         )
         if None in bases:
diff --git a/django/db/migrations/writer.py b/django/db/migrations/writer.py
index a23a9b1253..549c72ed60 100644
--- a/django/db/migrations/writer.py
+++ b/django/db/migrations/writer.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ from importlib import import_module
 import os
 import types
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.db import models
 from django.db.migrations.loader import MigrationLoader
 from django.utils.encoding import force_text
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ class MigrationWriter(object):
             migrations_module = import_module(migrations_package_name)
             basedir = os.path.dirname(migrations_module.__file__)
         except ImportError:
-            app_config = app_cache.get_app_config(self.migration.app_label)
+            app_config = apps.get_app_config(self.migration.app_label)
             migrations_package_basename = migrations_package_name.split(".")[-1]
 
             # Alright, see if it's a direct submodule of the app
diff --git a/django/db/models/base.py b/django/db/models/base.py
index 85e4be870b..66c1d96762 100644
--- a/django/db/models/base.py
+++ b/django/db/models/base.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import sys
 from functools import update_wrapper
 from django.utils.six.moves import zip
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.apps.base import MODELS_MODULE_NAME
 import django.db.models.manager  # NOQA: Imported to register signal handler.
 from django.conf import settings
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ class ModelBase(type):
                 new_class._base_manager = new_class._base_manager._copy_to_model(new_class)
 
         # Bail out early if we have already created this class.
-        m = new_class._meta.app_cache.get_registered_model(new_class._meta.app_label, name)
+        m = new_class._meta.apps.get_registered_model(new_class._meta.app_label, name)
         if m is not None:
             return m
 
@@ -273,12 +273,12 @@ class ModelBase(type):
 
         new_class._prepare()
 
-        new_class._meta.app_cache.register_model(new_class._meta.app_label, new_class)
+        new_class._meta.apps.register_model(new_class._meta.app_label, new_class)
         # Because of the way imports happen (recursively), we may or may not be
         # the first time this model tries to register with the framework. There
         # should only be one class for each model, so we always return the
         # registered version.
-        return new_class._meta.app_cache.get_registered_model(new_class._meta.app_label, name)
+        return new_class._meta.apps.get_registered_model(new_class._meta.app_label, name)
 
     def copy_managers(cls, base_managers):
         # This is in-place sorting of an Options attribute, but that's fine.
@@ -1065,7 +1065,7 @@ def model_unpickle(model_id, attrs, factory):
     Used to unpickle Model subclasses with deferred fields.
     """
     if isinstance(model_id, tuple):
-        model = app_cache.get_model(*model_id)
+        model = apps.get_model(*model_id)
     else:
         # Backwards compat - the model was cached directly in earlier versions.
         model = model_id
diff --git a/django/db/models/fields/__init__.py b/django/db/models/fields/__init__.py
index 830ff2efa2..6dcfd9ca70 100644
--- a/django/db/models/fields/__init__.py
+++ b/django/db/models/fields/__init__.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import warnings
 from base64 import b64decode, b64encode
 from itertools import tee
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.db import connection
 from django.db.models.query_utils import QueryWrapper
 from django.conf import settings
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ BLANK_CHOICE_DASH = [("", "---------")]
 
 
 def _load_field(app_label, model_name, field_name):
-    return app_cache.get_model(app_label, model_name)._meta.get_field_by_name(field_name)[0]
+    return apps.get_model(app_label, model_name)._meta.get_field_by_name(field_name)[0]
 
 
 class FieldDoesNotExist(Exception):
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ class Field(object):
     def __reduce__(self):
         """
         Pickling should return the model._meta.fields instance of the field,
-        not a new copy of that field. So, we use the app cache to load the
+        not a new copy of that field. So, we use the app registry to load the
         model and then the field back.
         """
         if not hasattr(self, 'model'):
@@ -298,8 +298,8 @@ class Field(object):
             # values - so, this is very close to normal pickle.
             return _empty, (self.__class__,), self.__dict__
         if self.model._deferred:
-            # Deferred model will not be found from the app cache. This could
-            # be fixed by reconstructing the deferred model on unpickle.
+            # Deferred model will not be found from the app registry. This
+            # could be fixed by reconstructing the deferred model on unpickle.
             raise RuntimeError("Fields of deferred models can't be reduced")
         return _load_field, (self.model._meta.app_label, self.model._meta.object_name,
                              self.name)
diff --git a/django/db/models/fields/related.py b/django/db/models/fields/related.py
index d6d84e1b23..769121bc01 100644
--- a/django/db/models/fields/related.py
+++ b/django/db/models/fields/related.py
@@ -68,13 +68,13 @@ def add_lazy_relation(cls, field, relation, operation):
     # string right away. If get_model returns None, it means that the related
     # model isn't loaded yet, so we need to pend the relation until the class
     # is prepared.
-    model = cls._meta.app_cache.get_registered_model(app_label, model_name)
+    model = cls._meta.apps.get_registered_model(app_label, model_name)
     if model:
         operation(field, model, cls)
     else:
         key = (app_label, model_name)
         value = (cls, field, operation)
-        cls._meta.app_cache._pending_lookups.setdefault(key, []).append(value)
+        cls._meta.apps._pending_lookups.setdefault(key, []).append(value)
 
 
 def do_pending_lookups(sender, **kwargs):
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def do_pending_lookups(sender, **kwargs):
     Handle any pending relations to the sending model. Sent from class_prepared.
     """
     key = (sender._meta.app_label, sender.__name__)
-    for cls, field, operation in sender._meta.app_cache._pending_lookups.pop(key, []):
+    for cls, field, operation in sender._meta.apps._pending_lookups.pop(key, []):
         operation(field, sender, cls)
 
 signals.class_prepared.connect(do_pending_lookups)
@@ -1493,7 +1493,7 @@ def create_many_to_many_intermediary_model(field, klass):
         'unique_together': (from_, to),
         'verbose_name': '%(from)s-%(to)s relationship' % {'from': from_, 'to': to},
         'verbose_name_plural': '%(from)s-%(to)s relationships' % {'from': from_, 'to': to},
-        'app_cache': field.model._meta.app_cache,
+        'apps': field.model._meta.apps,
     })
     # Construct and return the new class.
     return type(str(name), (models.Model,), {
diff --git a/django/db/models/loading.py b/django/db/models/loading.py
index 4b58ba00b5..42fcce8551 100644
--- a/django/db/models/loading.py
+++ b/django/db/models/loading.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import warnings
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 
 warnings.warn(
     "The utilities in django.db.models.loading are deprecated "
@@ -12,24 +12,24 @@ __all__ = ('get_apps', 'get_app', 'get_models', 'get_model', 'register_models',
 
 # These methods were always module level, so are kept that way for backwards
 # compatibility.
-get_apps = app_cache.get_apps
-get_app_package = app_cache.get_app_package
-get_app_path = app_cache.get_app_path
-get_app_paths = app_cache.get_app_paths
-get_app = app_cache.get_app
-get_models = app_cache.get_models
-get_model = app_cache.get_model
-register_models = app_cache.register_models
-load_app = app_cache.load_app
-app_cache_ready = app_cache.app_cache_ready
+get_apps = apps.get_apps
+get_app_package = apps.get_app_package
+get_app_path = apps.get_app_path
+get_app_paths = apps.get_app_paths
+get_app = apps.get_app
+get_models = apps.get_models
+get_model = apps.get_model
+register_models = apps.register_models
+load_app = apps.load_app
+app_cache_ready = apps.ready
 
 
 # This method doesn't return anything interesting in Django 1.6. Maintain it
 # just for backwards compatibility until this module is deprecated.
 def get_app_errors():
     try:
-        return app_cache.app_errors
+        return apps.app_errors
     except AttributeError:
-        app_cache.populate_models()
-        app_cache.app_errors = {}
-        return app_cache.app_errors
+        apps.populate_models()
+        apps.app_errors = {}
+        return apps.app_errors
diff --git a/django/db/models/options.py b/django/db/models/options.py
index 8f181c8854..1186d3b50a 100644
--- a/django/db/models/options.py
+++ b/django/db/models/options.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import re
 from bisect import bisect
 import warnings
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.db.models.fields.related import ManyToManyRel
 from django.db.models.fields import AutoField, FieldDoesNotExist
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ DEFAULT_NAMES = ('verbose_name', 'verbose_name_plural', 'db_table', 'ordering',
                  'unique_together', 'permissions', 'get_latest_by',
                  'order_with_respect_to', 'app_label', 'db_tablespace',
                  'abstract', 'managed', 'proxy', 'swappable', 'auto_created',
-                 'index_together', 'app_cache', 'default_permissions',
+                 'index_together', 'apps', 'default_permissions',
                  'select_on_save')
 
 
@@ -88,13 +88,13 @@ class Options(object):
         # from *other* models. Needed for some admin checks. Internal use only.
         self.related_fkey_lookups = []
 
-        # A custom AppCache to use, if you're making a separate model set.
-        self.app_cache = app_cache
+        # A custom app registry to use, if you're making a separate model set.
+        self.apps = apps
 
     @property
     def app_config(self):
         # Don't go through get_app_config to avoid triggering imports.
-        return self.app_cache.app_configs.get(self.app_label)
+        return self.apps.app_configs.get(self.app_label)
 
     @property
     def installed(self):
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ class Options(object):
             if hasattr(f, 'related'):
                 cache[f.name] = cache[f.attname] = (
                     f.related, None if f.model == self.model else f.model, True, False)
-        if app_cache.app_cache_ready():
+        if apps.ready():
             self._name_map = cache
         return cache
 
@@ -516,7 +516,7 @@ class Options(object):
                     cache[obj] = model
         # Collect also objects which are in relation to some proxy child/parent of self.
         proxy_cache = cache.copy()
-        for klass in self.app_cache.get_models(include_auto_created=True, only_installed=False):
+        for klass in self.apps.get_models(include_auto_created=True, only_installed=False):
             if not klass._meta.swapped:
                 for f in klass._meta.local_fields:
                     if f.rel and not isinstance(f.rel.to, six.string_types) and f.generate_reverse_relation:
@@ -559,14 +559,14 @@ class Options(object):
                     cache[obj] = parent
                 else:
                     cache[obj] = model
-        for klass in self.app_cache.get_models(only_installed=False):
+        for klass in self.apps.get_models(only_installed=False):
             if not klass._meta.swapped:
                 for f in klass._meta.local_many_to_many:
                     if (f.rel
                             and not isinstance(f.rel.to, six.string_types)
                             and self == f.rel.to._meta):
                         cache[f.related] = None
-        if app_cache.app_cache_ready():
+        if apps.ready():
             self._related_many_to_many_cache = cache
         return cache
 
diff --git a/django/db/models/query_utils.py b/django/db/models/query_utils.py
index a7d98f60fe..2aa4856cf0 100644
--- a/django/db/models/query_utils.py
+++ b/django/db/models/query_utils.py
@@ -189,9 +189,9 @@ def deferred_class_factory(model, attrs):
         proxy = True
         app_label = model._meta.app_label
 
-    # The app_cache wants a unique name for each model, otherwise the new class
-    # won't be created (we get an old one back). Therefore, we generate the
-    # name using the passed in attrs. It's OK to reuse an existing class
+    # The app registry wants a unique name for each model, otherwise the new
+    # class won't be created (we get an old one back). Therefore, we generate
+    # the name using the passed in attrs. It's OK to reuse an existing class
     # object if the attrs are identical.
     name = "%s_Deferred_%s" % (model.__name__, '_'.join(sorted(list(attrs))))
     name = utils.truncate_name(name, 80, 32)
diff --git a/django/db/models/signals.py b/django/db/models/signals.py
index 8c835e5f5f..10da3e22a5 100644
--- a/django/db/models/signals.py
+++ b/django/db/models/signals.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from collections import defaultdict
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.dispatch import Signal
 from django.utils import six
 
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ class ModelSignal(Signal):
                     "Specified sender must either be a model or a "
                     "model name of the 'app_label.ModelName' form."
                 )
-            sender = app_cache.get_model(app_label, object_name, only_installed=False)
+            sender = apps.get_model(app_label, object_name, only_installed=False)
             if sender is None:
                 reference = (app_label, object_name)
                 self.unresolved_references[reference].append(
diff --git a/django/db/utils.py b/django/db/utils.py
index 702b1b4ebc..85eabb934e 100644
--- a/django/db/utils.py
+++ b/django/db/utils.py
@@ -282,6 +282,6 @@ class ConnectionRouter(object):
         """
         Return app models allowed to be synchronized on provided db.
         """
-        from django.apps import app_cache
-        return [model for model in app_cache.get_models(app, include_auto_created=include_auto_created)
+        from django.apps import apps
+        return [model for model in apps.get_models(app, include_auto_created=include_auto_created)
                 if self.allow_migrate(db, model)]
diff --git a/django/template/base.py b/django/template/base.py
index 197238b1e3..883609cf3e 100644
--- a/django/template/base.py
+++ b/django/template/base.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ from functools import partial
 from importlib import import_module
 from inspect import getargspec, getcallargs
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.template.context import (BaseContext, Context, RequestContext,  # NOQA: imported for backwards compatibility
     ContextPopException)
@@ -1306,7 +1306,7 @@ def get_templatetags_modules():
 
         templatetags_modules_candidates = ['django.templatetags']
         templatetags_modules_candidates += ['%s.templatetags' % app_config.name
-            for app_config in app_cache.get_app_configs()]
+            for app_config in apps.get_app_configs()]
         for templatetag_module in templatetags_modules_candidates:
             try:
                 import_module(templatetag_module)
diff --git a/django/template/loaders/app_directories.py b/django/template/loaders/app_directories.py
index ff3d3b93f8..a2e741b419 100644
--- a/django/template/loaders/app_directories.py
+++ b/django/template/loaders/app_directories.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ packages.
 import os
 import sys
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.template.base import TemplateDoesNotExist
 from django.template.loader import BaseLoader
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ from django.utils import six
 if six.PY2:
     fs_encoding = sys.getfilesystemencoding() or sys.getdefaultencoding()
 app_template_dirs = []
-for app_config in app_cache.get_app_configs():
+for app_config in apps.get_app_configs():
     template_dir = os.path.join(app_config.path, 'templates')
     if os.path.isdir(template_dir):
         if six.PY2:
diff --git a/django/template/loaders/eggs.py b/django/template/loaders/eggs.py
index 99c19aed93..bb49b302c9 100644
--- a/django/template/loaders/eggs.py
+++ b/django/template/loaders/eggs.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ try:
 except ImportError:
     resource_string = None
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.template.base import TemplateDoesNotExist
 from django.template.loader import BaseLoader
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ class Loader(BaseLoader):
         """
         if resource_string is not None:
             pkg_name = 'templates/' + template_name
-            for app_config in app_cache.get_app_configs():
+            for app_config in apps.get_app_configs():
                 try:
                     resource = resource_string(app_config.name, pkg_name)
                 except Exception:
diff --git a/django/test/client.py b/django/test/client.py
index eea9b43010..a2da8bcd38 100644
--- a/django/test/client.py
+++ b/django/test/client.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ from copy import copy
 from importlib import import_module
 from io import BytesIO
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.contrib.auth import authenticate, login, logout, get_user_model
 from django.core.handlers.base import BaseHandler
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ class Client(RequestFactory):
         """
         Obtains the current session variables.
         """
-        if app_cache.has_app('django.contrib.sessions'):
+        if apps.has_app('django.contrib.sessions'):
             engine = import_module(settings.SESSION_ENGINE)
             cookie = self.cookies.get(settings.SESSION_COOKIE_NAME, None)
             if cookie:
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@ class Client(RequestFactory):
         """
         user = authenticate(**credentials)
         if (user and user.is_active and
-                app_cache.has_app('django.contrib.sessions')):
+                apps.has_app('django.contrib.sessions')):
             engine = import_module(settings.SESSION_ENGINE)
 
             # Create a fake request that goes through request middleware
diff --git a/django/test/simple.py b/django/test/simple.py
index f2d26376df..fa70738447 100644
--- a/django/test/simple.py
+++ b/django/test/simple.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import re
 import unittest as real_unittest
 import warnings
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.test import _doctest as doctest
 from django.test import runner
 from django.test.utils import compare_xml, strip_quotes
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ def build_test(label):
         raise ValueError("Test label '%s' should be of the form app.TestCase "
                          "or app.TestCase.test_method" % label)
 
-    app_config = app_cache.get_app_config(parts[0])
+    app_config = apps.get_app_config(parts[0])
     models_module = app_config.models_module
     tests_module = get_tests(app_config)
 
@@ -237,10 +237,10 @@ class DjangoTestSuiteRunner(runner.DiscoverRunner):
                 if '.' in label:
                     suite.addTest(build_test(label))
                 else:
-                    app_config = app_cache.get_app_config(label)
+                    app_config = apps.get_app_config(label)
                     suite.addTest(build_suite(app_config))
         else:
-            for app_config in app_cache.get_app_configs():
+            for app_config in apps.get_app_configs():
                 suite.addTest(build_suite(app_config))
 
         if extra_tests:
diff --git a/django/test/testcases.py b/django/test/testcases.py
index 0e1bb78d46..056eb5469f 100644
--- a/django/test/testcases.py
+++ b/django/test/testcases.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import unittest
 from unittest import skipIf         # NOQA: Imported here for backward compatibility
 from unittest.util import safe_repr
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.core import mail
 from django.core.exceptions import ValidationError, ImproperlyConfigured
@@ -732,13 +732,13 @@ class TransactionTestCase(SimpleTestCase):
         """Performs any pre-test setup. This includes:
 
         * If the class has an 'available_apps' attribute, restricting the app
-          cache to these applications, then firing post_migrate -- it must run
-          with the correct set of applications for the test case.
+          registry to these applications, then firing post_migrate -- it must
+          run with the correct set of applications for the test case.
         * If the class has a 'fixtures' attribute, installing these fixtures.
         """
         super(TransactionTestCase, self)._pre_setup()
         if self.available_apps is not None:
-            app_cache.set_available_apps(self.available_apps)
+            apps.set_available_apps(self.available_apps)
             setting_changed.send(sender=settings._wrapped.__class__,
                                  setting='INSTALLED_APPS',
                                  value=self.available_apps,
@@ -749,7 +749,7 @@ class TransactionTestCase(SimpleTestCase):
             self._fixture_setup()
         except Exception:
             if self.available_apps is not None:
-                app_cache.unset_available_apps()
+                apps.unset_available_apps()
                 setting_changed.send(sender=settings._wrapped.__class__,
                                      setting='INSTALLED_APPS',
                                      value=settings.INSTALLED_APPS,
@@ -809,7 +809,7 @@ class TransactionTestCase(SimpleTestCase):
                 conn.close()
         finally:
             if self.available_apps is not None:
-                app_cache.unset_available_apps()
+                apps.unset_available_apps()
                 setting_changed.send(sender=settings._wrapped.__class__,
                                      setting='INSTALLED_APPS',
                                      value=settings.INSTALLED_APPS,
diff --git a/django/test/utils.py b/django/test/utils.py
index 4453545dea..42cb127129 100644
--- a/django/test/utils.py
+++ b/django/test/utils.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import warnings
 from functools import wraps
 from xml.dom.minidom import parseString, Node
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.conf import settings, UserSettingsHolder
 from django.core import mail
 from django.core.signals import request_started
@@ -229,9 +229,9 @@ class override_settings(object):
         # in case it raises an exception because INSTALLED_APPS is invalid.
         if 'INSTALLED_APPS' in self.options:
             try:
-                app_cache.set_installed_apps(self.options['INSTALLED_APPS'])
+                apps.set_installed_apps(self.options['INSTALLED_APPS'])
             except Exception:
-                app_cache.unset_installed_apps()
+                apps.unset_installed_apps()
                 raise
         override = UserSettingsHolder(settings._wrapped)
         for key, new_value in self.options.items():
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ class override_settings(object):
 
     def disable(self):
         if 'INSTALLED_APPS' in self.options:
-            app_cache.unset_installed_apps()
+            apps.unset_installed_apps()
         settings._wrapped = self.wrapped
         del self.wrapped
         for key in self.options:
diff --git a/django/utils/autoreload.py b/django/utils/autoreload.py
index b7a889aa61..94c74e582a 100644
--- a/django/utils/autoreload.py
+++ b/django/utils/autoreload.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ import sys
 import time
 import traceback
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.core.signals import request_finished
 try:
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ def gen_filenames():
         basedirs = [os.path.join(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(__file__)),
                                  'conf', 'locale'),
                     'locale']
-        for app_config in reversed(list(app_cache.get_app_configs())):
+        for app_config in reversed(list(apps.get_app_configs())):
             basedirs.append(os.path.join(app_config.path, 'locale'))
         basedirs.extend(settings.LOCALE_PATHS)
         basedirs = [os.path.abspath(basedir) for basedir in basedirs
diff --git a/django/utils/module_loading.py b/django/utils/module_loading.py
index c7826be5e5..1ed7d93e31 100644
--- a/django/utils/module_loading.py
+++ b/django/utils/module_loading.py
@@ -58,10 +58,10 @@ def autodiscover_modules(*args, **kwargs):
     registry. This register_to object must have a _registry instance variable
     to access it.
     """
-    from django.apps import app_cache
+    from django.apps import apps
 
     register_to = kwargs.get('register_to')
-    for app_config in app_cache.get_app_configs():
+    for app_config in apps.get_app_configs():
         # Attempt to import the app's module.
         try:
             if register_to:
diff --git a/django/utils/translation/trans_real.py b/django/utils/translation/trans_real.py
index 1eced98d31..29c133006e 100644
--- a/django/utils/translation/trans_real.py
+++ b/django/utils/translation/trans_real.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import gettext as gettext_module
 from threading import local
 import warnings
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.dispatch import receiver
 from django.test.signals import setting_changed
 from django.utils.encoding import force_str, force_text
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ def translation(language):
                     res.merge(t)
             return res
 
-        for app_config in reversed(list(app_cache.get_app_configs())):
+        for app_config in reversed(list(apps.get_app_configs())):
             apppath = os.path.join(app_config.path, 'locale')
             if os.path.isdir(apppath):
                 res = _merge(apppath)
diff --git a/django/views/i18n.py b/django/views/i18n.py
index 2cc2e35e5e..7182f4f3cd 100644
--- a/django/views/i18n.py
+++ b/django/views/i18n.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import os
 import gettext as gettext_module
 
 from django import http
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.template import Context, Template
 from django.utils.translation import check_for_language, to_locale, get_language
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ def render_javascript_catalog(catalog=None, plural=None):
 
 def get_javascript_catalog(locale, domain, packages):
     default_locale = to_locale(settings.LANGUAGE_CODE)
-    app_configs = app_cache.get_app_configs()
+    app_configs = apps.get_app_configs()
     allowable_packages = set(app_config.name for app_config in app_configs)
     allowable_packages.add('django.conf')
     packages = [p for p in packages if p in allowable_packages]
diff --git a/docs/internals/deprecation.txt b/docs/internals/deprecation.txt
index ef2561a05d..29a68ff0c1 100644
--- a/docs/internals/deprecation.txt
+++ b/docs/internals/deprecation.txt
@@ -222,9 +222,7 @@ these changes.
 * ``django.core.cache.get_cache`` will be removed. Add suitable entries
   to :setting:`CACHES` and use :data:`django.core.cache.caches` instead.
 
-* ``django.db.models.loading`` will be removed. Use the new application
-  loading APIs instead. Several undocumented methods of the ``AppCache`` class
-  will also be removed.
+* ``django.db.models.loading`` will be removed.
 
 * Passing callable arguments to querysets will no longer be possible.
 
diff --git a/tests/app_cache/tests.py b/tests/app_cache/tests.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 43133ab38f..0000000000
--- a/tests/app_cache/tests.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,51 +0,0 @@
-from __future__ import absolute_import
-
-from django.apps import app_cache
-from django.apps.cache import AppCache
-from django.db import models
-from django.test import TestCase
-
-from .models import TotallyNormal, SoAlternative, new_app_cache
-
-
-class AppCacheTests(TestCase):
-
-    def test_models_py(self):
-        """
-        Tests that the models in the models.py file were loaded correctly.
-        """
-        self.assertEqual(app_cache.get_model("app_cache", "TotallyNormal"), TotallyNormal)
-        self.assertEqual(app_cache.get_model("app_cache", "SoAlternative"), None)
-
-        self.assertEqual(new_app_cache.get_model("app_cache", "TotallyNormal"), None)
-        self.assertEqual(new_app_cache.get_model("app_cache", "SoAlternative"), SoAlternative)
-
-    def test_dynamic_load(self):
-        """
-        Makes a new model at runtime and ensures it goes into the right place.
-        """
-        old_models = app_cache.get_models(app_cache.get_app_config("app_cache").models_module)
-        # Construct a new model in a new app cache
-        body = {}
-        new_app_cache = AppCache()
-        meta_contents = {
-            'app_label': "app_cache",
-            'app_cache': new_app_cache,
-        }
-        meta = type("Meta", tuple(), meta_contents)
-        body['Meta'] = meta
-        body['__module__'] = TotallyNormal.__module__
-        temp_model = type("SouthPonies", (models.Model,), body)
-        # Make sure it appeared in the right place!
-        self.assertEqual(
-            old_models,
-            app_cache.get_models(app_cache.get_app_config("app_cache").models_module),
-        )
-        self.assertEqual(new_app_cache.get_model("app_cache", "SouthPonies"), temp_model)
-
-    def test_singleton_master(self):
-        """
-        Ensures that only one master app cache can exist.
-        """
-        with self.assertRaises(RuntimeError):
-            AppCache(master=True)
diff --git a/tests/app_loading/tests.py b/tests/app_loading/tests.py
index 291877108f..19a1d03d74 100644
--- a/tests/app_loading/tests.py
+++ b/tests/app_loading/tests.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 import os
 import sys
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.test import TestCase
 from django.utils._os import upath
 from django.utils import six
@@ -17,11 +17,11 @@ class EggLoadingTest(TestCase):
 
         # The models need to be removed after the test in order to prevent bad
         # interactions with the flush operation in other tests.
-        self._old_models = app_cache.all_models['app_loading'].copy()
+        self._old_models = apps.all_models['app_loading'].copy()
 
     def tearDown(self):
-        app_cache.all_models['app_loading'] = self._old_models
-        app_cache.get_models.cache_clear()
+        apps.all_models['app_loading'] = self._old_models
+        apps.get_models.cache_clear()
 
         sys.path = self.old_path
 
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class EggLoadingTest(TestCase):
         egg_name = '%s/modelapp.egg' % self.egg_dir
         sys.path.append(egg_name)
         with self.settings(INSTALLED_APPS=['app_with_models']):
-            models_module = app_cache.get_app_config('app_with_models').models_module
+            models_module = apps.get_app_config('app_with_models').models_module
             self.assertIsNotNone(models_module)
 
     def test_egg2(self):
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ class EggLoadingTest(TestCase):
         egg_name = '%s/nomodelapp.egg' % self.egg_dir
         sys.path.append(egg_name)
         with self.settings(INSTALLED_APPS=['app_no_models']):
-            models_module = app_cache.get_app_config('app_no_models').models_module
+            models_module = apps.get_app_config('app_no_models').models_module
             self.assertIsNone(models_module)
 
     def test_egg3(self):
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ class EggLoadingTest(TestCase):
         egg_name = '%s/omelet.egg' % self.egg_dir
         sys.path.append(egg_name)
         with self.settings(INSTALLED_APPS=['omelet.app_with_models']):
-            models_module = app_cache.get_app_config('app_with_models').models_module
+            models_module = apps.get_app_config('app_with_models').models_module
             self.assertIsNotNone(models_module)
 
     def test_egg4(self):
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ class EggLoadingTest(TestCase):
         egg_name = '%s/omelet.egg' % self.egg_dir
         sys.path.append(egg_name)
         with self.settings(INSTALLED_APPS=['omelet.app_no_models']):
-            models_module = app_cache.get_app_config('app_no_models').models_module
+            models_module = apps.get_app_config('app_no_models').models_module
             self.assertIsNone(models_module)
 
     def test_egg5(self):
@@ -73,26 +73,26 @@ class GetModelsTest(TestCase):
 
     def test_get_model_only_returns_installed_models(self):
         self.assertEqual(
-            app_cache.get_model("not_installed", "NotInstalledModel"), None)
+            apps.get_model("not_installed", "NotInstalledModel"), None)
 
     def test_get_model_with_not_installed(self):
         self.assertEqual(
-            app_cache.get_model(
+            apps.get_model(
                 "not_installed", "NotInstalledModel", only_installed=False),
             self.not_installed_module.NotInstalledModel)
 
     def test_get_models_only_returns_installed_models(self):
         self.assertNotIn(
             "NotInstalledModel",
-            [m.__name__ for m in app_cache.get_models()])
+            [m.__name__ for m in apps.get_models()])
 
     def test_get_models_with_app_label_only_returns_installed_models(self):
-        self.assertEqual(app_cache.get_models(self.not_installed_module), [])
+        self.assertEqual(apps.get_models(self.not_installed_module), [])
 
     def test_get_models_with_not_installed(self):
         self.assertIn(
             "NotInstalledModel",
-            [m.__name__ for m in app_cache.get_models(only_installed=False)])
+            [m.__name__ for m in apps.get_models(only_installed=False)])
 
 
 class NotInstalledModelsTest(TestCase):
diff --git a/tests/app_cache/__init__.py b/tests/apps/__init__.py
similarity index 100%
rename from tests/app_cache/__init__.py
rename to tests/apps/__init__.py
diff --git a/tests/app_cache/models.py b/tests/apps/models.py
similarity index 56%
rename from tests/app_cache/models.py
rename to tests/apps/models.py
index 9306830f9c..c3f764a70b 100644
--- a/tests/app_cache/models.py
+++ b/tests/apps/models.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
-from django.apps.cache import AppCache
+from django.apps.registry import Apps
 from django.db import models
 
-# We're testing app cache presence on load, so this is handy.
+# We're testing app registry presence on load, so this is handy.
 
-new_app_cache = AppCache()
+new_apps = Apps()
 
 
 class TotallyNormal(models.Model):
@@ -14,4 +14,4 @@ class SoAlternative(models.Model):
     name = models.CharField(max_length=255)
 
     class Meta:
-        app_cache = new_app_cache
+        apps = new_apps
diff --git a/tests/apps/tests.py b/tests/apps/tests.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c38d16f8bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/apps/tests.py
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+
+from django.apps import apps
+from django.apps.registry import Apps
+from django.db import models
+from django.test import TestCase
+
+from .models import TotallyNormal, SoAlternative, new_apps
+
+
+class AppsTests(TestCase):
+
+    def test_models_py(self):
+        """
+        Tests that the models in the models.py file were loaded correctly.
+        """
+        self.assertEqual(apps.get_model("apps", "TotallyNormal"), TotallyNormal)
+        self.assertEqual(apps.get_model("apps", "SoAlternative"), None)
+
+        self.assertEqual(new_apps.get_model("apps", "TotallyNormal"), None)
+        self.assertEqual(new_apps.get_model("apps", "SoAlternative"), SoAlternative)
+
+    def test_dynamic_load(self):
+        """
+        Makes a new model at runtime and ensures it goes into the right place.
+        """
+        old_models = apps.get_models(apps.get_app_config("apps").models_module)
+        # Construct a new model in a new app registry
+        body = {}
+        new_apps = Apps()
+        meta_contents = {
+            'app_label': "apps",
+            'apps': new_apps,
+        }
+        meta = type("Meta", tuple(), meta_contents)
+        body['Meta'] = meta
+        body['__module__'] = TotallyNormal.__module__
+        temp_model = type("SouthPonies", (models.Model,), body)
+        # Make sure it appeared in the right place!
+        self.assertEqual(
+            old_models,
+            apps.get_models(apps.get_app_config("apps").models_module),
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(new_apps.get_model("apps", "SouthPonies"), temp_model)
+
+    def test_singleton_master(self):
+        """
+        Ensures that only one master registry can exist.
+        """
+        with self.assertRaises(RuntimeError):
+            Apps(master=True)
diff --git a/tests/base/models.py b/tests/base/models.py
index 23efdf9d5b..f84d64df53 100644
--- a/tests/base/models.py
+++ b/tests/base/models.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ from django.utils import six
 
 
 # The models definitions below used to crash. Generating models dynamically
-# at runtime is a bad idea because it pollutes the app cache. This doesn't
+# at runtime is a bad idea because it pollutes the app registry. This doesn't
 # integrate well with the test suite but at least it prevents regressions.
 
 
diff --git a/tests/bash_completion/tests.py b/tests/bash_completion/tests.py
index 5a6a6c48d2..8653af3c85 100644
--- a/tests/bash_completion/tests.py
+++ b/tests/bash_completion/tests.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import os
 import sys
 import unittest
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.core.management import ManagementUtility
 from django.utils.six import StringIO
 
@@ -85,6 +85,6 @@ class BashCompletionTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self._user_input('django-admin.py sqlall a')
         output = self._run_autocomplete()
         a_labels = sorted(app_config.label
-            for app_config in app_cache.get_app_configs()
+            for app_config in apps.get_app_configs()
             if app_config.label.startswith('a'))
         self.assertEqual(output, a_labels)
diff --git a/tests/commands_sql/tests.py b/tests/commands_sql/tests.py
index 1c2a7f0ffa..00f4017b9c 100644
--- a/tests/commands_sql/tests.py
+++ b/tests/commands_sql/tests.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.core.management.color import no_style
 from django.core.management.sql import (sql_create, sql_delete, sql_indexes,
     sql_destroy_indexes, sql_all)
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ class SQLCommandsTestCase(TestCase):
         return len([o for o in output if o.startswith(cmd)])
 
     def test_sql_create(self):
-        app = app_cache.get_app_config('commands_sql').models_module
+        app = apps.get_app_config('commands_sql').models_module
         output = sql_create(app, no_style(), connections[DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS])
         create_tables = [o for o in output if o.startswith('CREATE TABLE')]
         self.assertEqual(len(create_tables), 3)
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class SQLCommandsTestCase(TestCase):
         six.assertRegex(self, sql, r'^create table .commands_sql_book.*')
 
     def test_sql_delete(self):
-        app = app_cache.get_app_config('commands_sql').models_module
+        app = apps.get_app_config('commands_sql').models_module
         output = sql_delete(app, no_style(), connections[DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS])
         drop_tables = [o for o in output if o.startswith('DROP TABLE')]
         self.assertEqual(len(drop_tables), 3)
@@ -35,19 +35,19 @@ class SQLCommandsTestCase(TestCase):
         six.assertRegex(self, sql, r'^drop table .commands_sql_comment.*')
 
     def test_sql_indexes(self):
-        app = app_cache.get_app_config('commands_sql').models_module
+        app = apps.get_app_config('commands_sql').models_module
         output = sql_indexes(app, no_style(), connections[DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS])
         # PostgreSQL creates one additional index for CharField
         self.assertIn(self.count_ddl(output, 'CREATE INDEX'), [3, 4])
 
     def test_sql_destroy_indexes(self):
-        app = app_cache.get_app_config('commands_sql').models_module
+        app = apps.get_app_config('commands_sql').models_module
         output = sql_destroy_indexes(app, no_style(), connections[DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS])
         # PostgreSQL creates one additional index for CharField
         self.assertIn(self.count_ddl(output, 'DROP INDEX'), [3, 4])
 
     def test_sql_all(self):
-        app = app_cache.get_app_config('commands_sql').models_module
+        app = apps.get_app_config('commands_sql').models_module
         output = sql_all(app, no_style(), connections[DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS])
 
         self.assertEqual(self.count_ddl(output, 'CREATE TABLE'), 3)
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ class SQLCommandsRouterTestCase(TestCase):
         router.routers = self._old_routers
 
     def test_router_honored(self):
-        app = app_cache.get_app_config('commands_sql').models_module
+        app = apps.get_app_config('commands_sql').models_module
         for sql_command in (sql_all, sql_create, sql_delete, sql_indexes, sql_destroy_indexes):
             output = sql_command(app, no_style(), connections[DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS])
             self.assertEqual(len(output), 0,
diff --git a/tests/contenttypes_tests/tests.py b/tests/contenttypes_tests/tests.py
index d3c19fd910..1f0af709cb 100644
--- a/tests/contenttypes_tests/tests.py
+++ b/tests/contenttypes_tests/tests.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
-from django.apps.cache import AppCache
+from django.apps.registry import Apps
 from django.contrib.contenttypes.models import ContentType
 from django.db import models
 from django.test import TestCase
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ class ContentTypesViewsTests(TestCase):
             class Meta:
                 verbose_name = 'a model created on the fly'
                 app_label = 'my_great_app'
-                app_cache = AppCache()
+                apps = Apps()
 
         ct = ContentType.objects.get_for_model(ModelCreatedOnTheFly)
         self.assertEqual(ct.app_label, 'my_great_app')
diff --git a/tests/defer_regress/tests.py b/tests/defer_regress/tests.py
index b12b3b61b0..22c2d281da 100644
--- a/tests/defer_regress/tests.py
+++ b/tests/defer_regress/tests.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 from operator import attrgetter
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.contrib.contenttypes.models import ContentType
 from django.contrib.sessions.backends.db import SessionStore
 from django.db.models import Count
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ class DeferRegressionTest(TestCase):
         klasses = set(
             map(
                 attrgetter("__name__"),
-                app_cache.get_models(app_cache.get_app_config("defer_regress").models_module)
+                apps.get_models(apps.get_app_config("defer_regress").models_module)
             )
         )
         self.assertIn("Child", klasses)
@@ -110,13 +110,13 @@ class DeferRegressionTest(TestCase):
         self.assertNotIn("Child_Deferred_value", klasses)
         self.assertNotIn("Item_Deferred_name", klasses)
         self.assertFalse(any(
-            k._deferred for k in app_cache.get_models(app_cache.get_app_config("defer_regress").models_module)))
+            k._deferred for k in apps.get_models(apps.get_app_config("defer_regress").models_module)))
 
         klasses_with_deferred = set(
             map(
                 attrgetter("__name__"),
-                app_cache.get_models(
-                    app_cache.get_app_config("defer_regress").models_module, include_deferred=True
+                apps.get_models(
+                    apps.get_app_config("defer_regress").models_module, include_deferred=True
                 ),
             )
         )
@@ -125,8 +125,8 @@ class DeferRegressionTest(TestCase):
         self.assertIn("Child_Deferred_value", klasses_with_deferred)
         self.assertIn("Item_Deferred_name", klasses_with_deferred)
         self.assertTrue(any(
-            k._deferred for k in app_cache.get_models(
-                app_cache.get_app_config("defer_regress").models_module, include_deferred=True))
+            k._deferred for k in apps.get_models(
+                apps.get_app_config("defer_regress").models_module, include_deferred=True))
         )
 
     @override_settings(SESSION_SERIALIZER='django.contrib.sessions.serializers.PickleSerializer')
diff --git a/tests/invalid_models_tests/tests.py b/tests/invalid_models_tests/tests.py
index 852e1dbb0d..2c98f39807 100644
--- a/tests/invalid_models_tests/tests.py
+++ b/tests/invalid_models_tests/tests.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import sys
 import unittest
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.core.management.validation import get_validation_errors
 from django.test import override_settings
 from django.utils.six import StringIO
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class InvalidModelTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         TEST_SWAPPED_MODEL_BAD_MODEL='not_an_app.Target',
     )
     def test_invalid_models(self):
-        module = app_cache.get_app_config("invalid_models").models_module
+        module = apps.get_app_config("invalid_models").models_module
         get_validation_errors(self.stdout, module)
 
         self.stdout.seek(0)
diff --git a/tests/managers_regress/tests.py b/tests/managers_regress/tests.py
index bf8e5b17d4..8e0b4cd017 100644
--- a/tests/managers_regress/tests.py
+++ b/tests/managers_regress/tests.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.db import models
 from django.template import Context, Template
 from django.test import TestCase, override_settings
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ class ManagersRegressionTests(TestCase):
     def test_swappable_manager(self):
         # The models need to be removed after the test in order to prevent bad
         # interactions with the flush operation in other tests.
-        _old_models = app_cache.app_configs['managers_regress'].models.copy()
+        _old_models = apps.app_configs['managers_regress'].models.copy()
 
         try:
             class SwappableModel(models.Model):
@@ -126,15 +126,15 @@ class ManagersRegressionTests(TestCase):
                 self.assertEqual(str(e), "Manager isn't available; SwappableModel has been swapped for 'managers_regress.Parent'")
 
         finally:
-            app_cache.app_configs['managers_regress'].models = _old_models
-            app_cache.all_models['managers_regress'] = _old_models
-            app_cache.get_models.cache_clear()
+            apps.app_configs['managers_regress'].models = _old_models
+            apps.all_models['managers_regress'] = _old_models
+            apps.get_models.cache_clear()
 
     @override_settings(TEST_SWAPPABLE_MODEL='managers_regress.Parent')
     def test_custom_swappable_manager(self):
         # The models need to be removed after the test in order to prevent bad
         # interactions with the flush operation in other tests.
-        _old_models = app_cache.app_configs['managers_regress'].models.copy()
+        _old_models = apps.app_configs['managers_regress'].models.copy()
 
         try:
             class SwappableModel(models.Model):
@@ -154,15 +154,15 @@ class ManagersRegressionTests(TestCase):
                 self.assertEqual(str(e), "Manager isn't available; SwappableModel has been swapped for 'managers_regress.Parent'")
 
         finally:
-            app_cache.app_configs['managers_regress'].models = _old_models
-            app_cache.all_models['managers_regress'] = _old_models
-            app_cache.get_models.cache_clear()
+            apps.app_configs['managers_regress'].models = _old_models
+            apps.all_models['managers_regress'] = _old_models
+            apps.get_models.cache_clear()
 
     @override_settings(TEST_SWAPPABLE_MODEL='managers_regress.Parent')
     def test_explicit_swappable_manager(self):
         # The models need to be removed after the test in order to prevent bad
         # interactions with the flush operation in other tests.
-        _old_models = app_cache.app_configs['managers_regress'].models.copy()
+        _old_models = apps.app_configs['managers_regress'].models.copy()
 
         try:
             class SwappableModel(models.Model):
@@ -182,9 +182,9 @@ class ManagersRegressionTests(TestCase):
                 self.assertEqual(str(e), "Manager isn't available; SwappableModel has been swapped for 'managers_regress.Parent'")
 
         finally:
-            app_cache.app_configs['managers_regress'].models = _old_models
-            app_cache.all_models['managers_regress'] = _old_models
-            app_cache.get_models.cache_clear()
+            apps.app_configs['managers_regress'].models = _old_models
+            apps.all_models['managers_regress'] = _old_models
+            apps.get_models.cache_clear()
 
     def test_regress_3871(self):
         related = RelatedModel.objects.create()
diff --git a/tests/migrations/models.py b/tests/migrations/models.py
index b1ef6c1dd1..f76a84054f 100644
--- a/tests/migrations/models.py
+++ b/tests/migrations/models.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
-from django.apps.cache import AppCache
+from django.apps.registry import Apps
 from django.db import models
 from django.utils.encoding import python_2_unicode_compatible
 
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ class UnicodeModel(models.Model):
 
     class Meta:
         # Disable auto loading of this model as we load it on our own
-        app_cache = AppCache()
+        apps = Apps()
         verbose_name = 'úñí©óðé µóðéø'
         verbose_name_plural = 'úñí©óðé µóðéøß'
 
@@ -32,4 +32,4 @@ class UnserializableModel(models.Model):
 
     class Meta:
         # Disable auto loading of this model as we load it on our own
-        app_cache = AppCache()
+        apps = Apps()
diff --git a/tests/migrations/test_commands.py b/tests/migrations/test_commands.py
index 9fa9be6cbf..3219a62f5a 100644
--- a/tests/migrations/test_commands.py
+++ b/tests/migrations/test_commands.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import codecs
 import os
 import shutil
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.core.management import call_command, CommandError
 from django.test import override_settings
 from django.utils import six
@@ -131,12 +131,12 @@ class MakeMigrationsTests(MigrationTestBase):
         self.test_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(upath(__file__)))
         self.migration_dir = os.path.join(self.test_dir, 'migrations_%d' % self.creation_counter)
         self.migration_pkg = "migrations.migrations_%d" % self.creation_counter
-        self._old_models = app_cache.app_configs['migrations'].models.copy()
+        self._old_models = apps.app_configs['migrations'].models.copy()
 
     def tearDown(self):
-        app_cache.app_configs['migrations'].models = self._old_models
-        app_cache.all_models['migrations'] = self._old_models
-        app_cache.get_models.cache_clear()
+        apps.app_configs['migrations'].models = self._old_models
+        apps.all_models['migrations'] = self._old_models
+        apps.get_models.cache_clear()
 
         os.chdir(self.test_dir)
         try:
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ class MakeMigrationsTests(MigrationTestBase):
 
     def test_files_content(self):
         self.assertTableNotExists("migrations_unicodemodel")
-        app_cache.register_model('migrations', UnicodeModel)
+        apps.register_model('migrations', UnicodeModel)
         with override_settings(MIGRATION_MODULES={"migrations": self.migration_pkg}):
             call_command("makemigrations", "migrations", verbosity=0)
 
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ class MakeMigrationsTests(MigrationTestBase):
 
     def test_failing_migration(self):
         #21280 - If a migration fails to serialize, it shouldn't generate an empty file.
-        app_cache.register_model('migrations', UnserializableModel)
+        apps.register_model('migrations', UnserializableModel)
 
         with six.assertRaisesRegex(self, ValueError, r'Cannot serialize'):
             with override_settings(MIGRATION_MODULES={"migrations": self.migration_pkg}):
diff --git a/tests/migrations/test_loader.py b/tests/migrations/test_loader.py
index 4f0b463f99..7b9ce72aab 100644
--- a/tests/migrations/test_loader.py
+++ b/tests/migrations/test_loader.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class LoaderTests(TestCase):
     def test_load(self):
         """
         Makes sure the loader can load the migrations for the test apps,
-        and then render them out to a new AppCache.
+        and then render them out to a new Apps.
         """
         # Load and test the plan
         migration_loader = MigrationLoader(connection)
diff --git a/tests/migrations/test_operations.py b/tests/migrations/test_operations.py
index 0ce030a66c..d11fda23c8 100644
--- a/tests/migrations/test_operations.py
+++ b/tests/migrations/test_operations.py
@@ -203,8 +203,8 @@ class OperationTests(MigrationTestBase):
         self.assertColumnNotExists("test_adflmm_pony", "stables")
         # Make sure the M2M field actually works
         with atomic():
-            new_app_cache = new_state.render()
-            Pony = new_app_cache.get_model("test_adflmm", "Pony")
+            new_apps = new_state.render()
+            Pony = new_apps.get_model("test_adflmm", "Pony")
             p = Pony.objects.create(pink=False, weight=4.55)
             p.stables.create()
             self.assertEqual(p.stables.count(), 1)
diff --git a/tests/migrations/test_state.py b/tests/migrations/test_state.py
index e695248cd2..b7af48fede 100644
--- a/tests/migrations/test_state.py
+++ b/tests/migrations/test_state.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from django.apps.cache import AppCache
+from django.apps.registry import Apps
 from django.db import models
 from django.db.migrations.state import ProjectState, ModelState, InvalidBasesError
 from django.test import TestCase
@@ -11,10 +11,10 @@ class StateTests(TestCase):
 
     def test_create(self):
         """
-        Tests making a ProjectState from an AppCache
+        Tests making a ProjectState from an Apps
         """
 
-        new_app_cache = AppCache()
+        new_apps = Apps()
 
         class Author(models.Model):
             name = models.CharField(max_length=255)
@@ -23,13 +23,13 @@ class StateTests(TestCase):
 
             class Meta:
                 app_label = "migrations"
-                app_cache = new_app_cache
+                apps = new_apps
                 unique_together = ["name", "bio"]
 
         class AuthorProxy(Author):
             class Meta:
                 app_label = "migrations"
-                app_cache = new_app_cache
+                apps = new_apps
                 proxy = True
                 ordering = ["name"]
 
@@ -40,11 +40,11 @@ class StateTests(TestCase):
 
             class Meta:
                 app_label = "migrations"
-                app_cache = new_app_cache
+                apps = new_apps
                 verbose_name = "tome"
                 db_table = "test_tome"
 
-        project_state = ProjectState.from_app_cache(new_app_cache)
+        project_state = ProjectState.from_apps(new_apps)
         author_state = project_state.models['migrations', 'author']
         author_proxy_state = project_state.models['migrations', 'authorproxy']
         book_state = project_state.models['migrations', 'book']
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ class StateTests(TestCase):
 
     def test_render(self):
         """
-        Tests rendering a ProjectState into an AppCache.
+        Tests rendering a ProjectState into an Apps.
         """
         project_state = ProjectState()
         project_state.add_model_state(ModelState(
@@ -90,9 +90,9 @@ class StateTests(TestCase):
             None,
         ))
 
-        new_app_cache = project_state.render()
-        self.assertEqual(new_app_cache.get_model("migrations", "Tag")._meta.get_field_by_name("name")[0].max_length, 100)
-        self.assertEqual(new_app_cache.get_model("migrations", "Tag")._meta.get_field_by_name("hidden")[0].null, False)
+        new_apps = project_state.render()
+        self.assertEqual(new_apps.get_model("migrations", "Tag")._meta.get_field_by_name("name")[0].max_length, 100)
+        self.assertEqual(new_apps.get_model("migrations", "Tag")._meta.get_field_by_name("hidden")[0].null, False)
 
     def test_render_model_inheritance(self):
         class Book(models.Model):
@@ -100,90 +100,90 @@ class StateTests(TestCase):
 
             class Meta:
                 app_label = "migrations"
-                app_cache = AppCache()
+                apps = Apps()
 
         class Novel(Book):
             class Meta:
                 app_label = "migrations"
-                app_cache = AppCache()
+                apps = Apps()
 
         # First, test rendering individually
-        app_cache = AppCache()
+        apps = Apps()
 
         # We shouldn't be able to render yet
         ms = ModelState.from_model(Novel)
         with self.assertRaises(InvalidBasesError):
-            ms.render(app_cache)
+            ms.render(apps)
 
-        # Once the parent model is in the app cache, it should be fine
-        ModelState.from_model(Book).render(app_cache)
-        ModelState.from_model(Novel).render(app_cache)
+        # Once the parent model is in the app registry, it should be fine
+        ModelState.from_model(Book).render(apps)
+        ModelState.from_model(Novel).render(apps)
 
     def test_render_model_with_multiple_inheritance(self):
         class Foo(models.Model):
             class Meta:
                 app_label = "migrations"
-                app_cache = AppCache()
+                apps = Apps()
 
         class Bar(models.Model):
             class Meta:
                 app_label = "migrations"
-                app_cache = AppCache()
+                apps = Apps()
 
         class FooBar(Foo, Bar):
             class Meta:
                 app_label = "migrations"
-                app_cache = AppCache()
+                apps = Apps()
 
-        app_cache = AppCache()
+        apps = Apps()
 
         # We shouldn't be able to render yet
         ms = ModelState.from_model(FooBar)
         with self.assertRaises(InvalidBasesError):
-            ms.render(app_cache)
+            ms.render(apps)
 
-        # Once the parent models are in the app cache, it should be fine
-        ModelState.from_model(Foo).render(app_cache)
-        ModelState.from_model(Bar).render(app_cache)
-        ModelState.from_model(FooBar).render(app_cache)
+        # Once the parent models are in the app registry, it should be fine
+        ModelState.from_model(Foo).render(apps)
+        ModelState.from_model(Bar).render(apps)
+        ModelState.from_model(FooBar).render(apps)
 
     def test_render_project_dependencies(self):
         """
         Tests that the ProjectState render method correctly renders models
         to account for inter-model base dependencies.
         """
-        new_app_cache = AppCache()
+        new_apps = Apps()
 
         class A(models.Model):
             class Meta:
                 app_label = "migrations"
-                app_cache = new_app_cache
+                apps = new_apps
 
         class B(A):
             class Meta:
                 app_label = "migrations"
-                app_cache = new_app_cache
+                apps = new_apps
 
         class C(B):
             class Meta:
                 app_label = "migrations"
-                app_cache = new_app_cache
+                apps = new_apps
 
         class D(A):
             class Meta:
                 app_label = "migrations"
-                app_cache = new_app_cache
+                apps = new_apps
 
         class E(B):
             class Meta:
                 app_label = "migrations"
-                app_cache = new_app_cache
+                apps = new_apps
                 proxy = True
 
         class F(D):
             class Meta:
                 app_label = "migrations"
-                app_cache = new_app_cache
+                apps = new_apps
                 proxy = True
 
         # Make a ProjectState and render it
@@ -194,8 +194,8 @@ class StateTests(TestCase):
         project_state.add_model_state(ModelState.from_model(D))
         project_state.add_model_state(ModelState.from_model(E))
         project_state.add_model_state(ModelState.from_model(F))
-        final_app_cache = project_state.render()
-        self.assertEqual(len(final_app_cache.get_models()), 6)
+        final_apps = project_state.render()
+        self.assertEqual(len(final_apps.get_models()), 6)
 
         # Now make an invalid ProjectState and make sure it fails
         project_state = ProjectState()
diff --git a/tests/no_models/tests.py b/tests/no_models/tests.py
index f9ff80485e..bd17364071 100644
--- a/tests/no_models/tests.py
+++ b/tests/no_models/tests.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.test import TestCase
 
 
@@ -6,5 +6,5 @@ class NoModelTests(TestCase):
 
     def test_no_models(self):
         """Test that it's possible to load an app with no models.py file."""
-        app_config = app_cache.get_app_config('no_models')
+        app_config = apps.get_app_config('no_models')
         self.assertIsNone(app_config.models_module)
diff --git a/tests/proxy_models/tests.py b/tests/proxy_models/tests.py
index 4a3d6e5e5a..fe294aeb1e 100644
--- a/tests/proxy_models/tests.py
+++ b/tests/proxy_models/tests.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.contrib import admin
 from django.contrib.contenttypes.models import ContentType
 from django.core import management
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ class ProxyModelTests(TestCase):
     def test_swappable(self):
         # The models need to be removed after the test in order to prevent bad
         # interactions with the flush operation in other tests.
-        _old_models = app_cache.app_configs['proxy_models'].models.copy()
+        _old_models = apps.app_configs['proxy_models'].models.copy()
 
         try:
             class SwappableModel(models.Model):
@@ -173,9 +173,9 @@ class ProxyModelTests(TestCase):
                     class Meta:
                         proxy = True
         finally:
-            app_cache.app_configs['proxy_models'].models = _old_models
-            app_cache.all_models['proxy_models'] = _old_models
-            app_cache.get_models.cache_clear()
+            apps.app_configs['proxy_models'].models = _old_models
+            apps.all_models['proxy_models'] = _old_models
+            apps.get_models.cache_clear()
 
     def test_myperson_manager(self):
         Person.objects.create(name="fred")
diff --git a/tests/runtests.py b/tests/runtests.py
index ab6f778a81..5f39eef400 100755
--- a/tests/runtests.py
+++ b/tests/runtests.py
@@ -80,13 +80,13 @@ def get_test_modules():
 
 
 def get_installed():
-    from django.apps import app_cache
-    return [app_config.name for app_config in app_cache.get_app_configs()]
+    from django.apps import apps
+    return [app_config.name for app_config in apps.get_app_configs()]
 
 
 def setup(verbosity, test_labels):
     import django
-    from django.apps import app_cache, AppConfig
+    from django.apps import apps, AppConfig
     from django.conf import settings
     from django.test import TransactionTestCase, TestCase
 
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ def setup(verbosity, test_labels):
     # Load all the ALWAYS_INSTALLED_APPS.
     with warnings.catch_warnings():
         warnings.filterwarnings('ignore', 'django.contrib.comments is deprecated and will be removed before Django 1.8.', DeprecationWarning)
-        app_cache.populate_models()
+        apps.populate_models()
 
     # Load all the test model apps.
     test_modules = get_test_modules()
@@ -168,9 +168,9 @@ def setup(verbosity, test_labels):
             if module_label not in settings.INSTALLED_APPS:
                 settings.INSTALLED_APPS.append(module_label)
             app_config = AppConfig.create(module_label)
-            app_config.import_models(app_cache.all_models[app_config.label])
-            app_cache.app_configs[app_config.label] = app_config
-            app_cache.get_models.cache_clear()
+            app_config.import_models(apps.all_models[app_config.label])
+            apps.app_configs[app_config.label] = app_config
+            apps.get_models.cache_clear()
 
     return state
 
diff --git a/tests/schema/models.py b/tests/schema/models.py
index b294647f9b..44fecf7ebd 100644
--- a/tests/schema/models.py
+++ b/tests/schema/models.py
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
-from django.apps.cache import AppCache
+from django.apps.registry import Apps
 from django.db import models
 
 # Because we want to test creation and deletion of these as separate things,
-# these models are all inserted into a separate AppCache so the main test
+# these models are all inserted into a separate Apps so the main test
 # runner doesn't migrate them.
 
-new_app_cache = AppCache()
+new_apps = Apps()
 
 
 class Author(models.Model):
@@ -13,14 +13,14 @@ class Author(models.Model):
     height = models.PositiveIntegerField(null=True, blank=True)
 
     class Meta:
-        app_cache = new_app_cache
+        apps = new_apps
 
 
 class AuthorWithM2M(models.Model):
     name = models.CharField(max_length=255)
 
     class Meta:
-        app_cache = new_app_cache
+        apps = new_apps
 
 
 class Book(models.Model):
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class Book(models.Model):
     # tags = models.ManyToManyField("Tag", related_name="books")
 
     class Meta:
-        app_cache = new_app_cache
+        apps = new_apps
 
 
 class BookWithM2M(models.Model):
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ class BookWithM2M(models.Model):
     tags = models.ManyToManyField("TagM2MTest", related_name="books")
 
     class Meta:
-        app_cache = new_app_cache
+        apps = new_apps
 
 
 class BookWithSlug(models.Model):
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ class BookWithSlug(models.Model):
     slug = models.CharField(max_length=20, unique=True)
 
     class Meta:
-        app_cache = new_app_cache
+        apps = new_apps
         db_table = "schema_book"
 
 
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class Tag(models.Model):
     slug = models.SlugField(unique=True)
 
     class Meta:
-        app_cache = new_app_cache
+        apps = new_apps
 
 
 class TagM2MTest(models.Model):
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ class TagM2MTest(models.Model):
     slug = models.SlugField(unique=True)
 
     class Meta:
-        app_cache = new_app_cache
+        apps = new_apps
 
 
 class TagIndexed(models.Model):
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ class TagIndexed(models.Model):
     slug = models.SlugField(unique=True)
 
     class Meta:
-        app_cache = new_app_cache
+        apps = new_apps
         index_together = [["slug", "title"]]
 
 
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ class TagUniqueRename(models.Model):
     slug2 = models.SlugField(unique=True)
 
     class Meta:
-        app_cache = new_app_cache
+        apps = new_apps
         db_table = "schema_tag"
 
 
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ class UniqueTest(models.Model):
     slug = models.SlugField(unique=False)
 
     class Meta:
-        app_cache = new_app_cache
+        apps = new_apps
         unique_together = ["year", "slug"]
 
 
@@ -101,4 +101,4 @@ class BookWithLongName(models.Model):
     author_foreign_key_with_really_long_field_name = models.ForeignKey(Author)
 
     class Meta:
-        app_cache = new_app_cache
+        apps = new_apps
diff --git a/tests/swappable_models/tests.py b/tests/swappable_models/tests.py
index c703a99fcb..3bf5b46d66 100644
--- a/tests/swappable_models/tests.py
+++ b/tests/swappable_models/tests.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 from django.utils.six import StringIO
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.contrib.auth.models import Permission
 from django.contrib.contenttypes.models import ContentType
 from django.core import management
diff --git a/tests/tablespaces/tests.py b/tests/tablespaces/tests.py
index fdee877a9f..5e22608551 100644
--- a/tests/tablespaces/tests.py
+++ b/tests/tablespaces/tests.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.db import connection
 from django.core.management.color import no_style
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class TablespacesTests(TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         # The unmanaged models need to be removed after the test in order to
         # prevent bad interactions with the flush operation in other tests.
-        self._old_models = app_cache.app_configs['tablespaces'].models.copy()
+        self._old_models = apps.app_configs['tablespaces'].models.copy()
 
         for model in Article, Authors, Reviewers, Scientist:
             model._meta.managed = True
@@ -35,9 +35,9 @@ class TablespacesTests(TestCase):
         for model in Article, Authors, Reviewers, Scientist:
             model._meta.managed = False
 
-        app_cache.app_configs['tablespaces'].models = self._old_models
-        app_cache.all_models['tablespaces'] = self._old_models
-        app_cache.get_models.cache_clear()
+        apps.app_configs['tablespaces'].models = self._old_models
+        apps.all_models['tablespaces'] = self._old_models
+        apps.get_models.cache_clear()
 
     def assertNumContains(self, haystack, needle, count):
         real_count = haystack.count(needle)
diff --git a/tests/test_suite_override/tests.py b/tests/test_suite_override/tests.py
index 9666df1c19..c485b801bc 100644
--- a/tests/test_suite_override/tests.py
+++ b/tests/test_suite_override/tests.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import unittest
 
-from django.apps import app_cache
+from django.apps import apps
 from django.test.utils import IgnoreAllDeprecationWarningsMixin
 
 
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ class SuiteOverrideTest(IgnoreAllDeprecationWarningsMixin, unittest.TestCase):
         """
 
         from django.test.simple import build_suite
-        app_config = app_cache.get_app_config("test_suite_override")
+        app_config = apps.get_app_config("test_suite_override")
         suite = build_suite(app_config)
         self.assertEqual(suite.countTestCases(), 1)
 
diff --git a/tests/validation/test_unique.py b/tests/validation/test_unique.py
index be7808f460..76c7ec174f 100644
--- a/tests/validation/test_unique.py
+++ b/tests/validation/test_unique.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 import datetime
 import unittest
 
-from django.apps.cache import AppCache
+from django.apps.registry import Apps
 from django.core.exceptions import ValidationError
 from django.db import models
 from django.test import TestCase
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ class GetUniqueCheckTests(unittest.TestCase):
 
                 Meta = type(str('Meta'), (), {
                     'unique_together': unique_together,
-                    'app_cache': AppCache()
+                    'apps': Apps()
                 })
 
             checks, _ = M()._get_unique_checks()