What is the difference between a circuit breaker and a fallback?

What is the difference between a circuit breaker and a fallback?

A circuit breaker prevents a system from trying to execute a failing operation, while a fallback provides an alternative action when a failure occurs.

Can you give me an example of when to use a circuit breaker?

Sure! Use a circuit breaker when you have a service that is failing repeatedly, to avoid overwhelming it and allow it to recover.

And what about fallbacks? When should I implement one?

Implement a fallback when you want to ensure that your application can still provide a basic level of service, even if a specific feature fails.

Are there any downsides to using circuit breakers?

Yes, if not configured properly, circuit breakers can lead to unnecessary service unavailability or delays in recovery.

How do I decide which one to use in my application?

It depends on your application's needs. Use circuit breakers for stability and fallbacks for user experience during failures.