How do I choose between consistency and availability?

I'm trying to decide between consistency and availability for my application. What should I consider?

You should consider the specific needs of your application. Consistency ensures that all users see the same data at the same time, while availability ensures that the system is always operational.

What are the trade-offs between the two?

The trade-off is often described by the CAP theorem: you can only guarantee two out of three properties: Consistency, Availability, and Partition Tolerance. If you prioritize consistency, you may sacrifice availability during network issues.

Can you give me an example of when to prioritize one over the other?

Sure! If you're building a banking application, consistency is crucial to prevent discrepancies in account balances. However, for a social media app, availability might be more important to ensure users can always post and interact.

How can I implement a system that balances both?

You can implement techniques like eventual consistency, where the system allows temporary inconsistencies but ensures that all data will become consistent over time.