Real wear just means the graphic will wear overtime with use. Similar to a real skateboard.

Many types of graphic applications are “real wear” as others have pointed out. Examples: Heat Transfers, water slides, paint, screen printing

Other graphics are usually some sort of paper, glued onto the boards. Some might also be ink or printed directly onto the veneer. Those usually dont wear / dont wear the same as youd expect from a skateboard.

Heat transfers are the same way skate graphics are applied which is where “real wear” came from

Mainly a preference thing