What is the CAP theorem and how does it affect system design?

What is the CAP theorem and how does it affect system design?

The CAP theorem states that in a distributed data store, you can only guarantee two of the following three properties: Consistency, Availability, and Partition Tolerance. This means that when designing a system, you must prioritize which two properties are most important for your application.

Can you give me an example of a system that prioritizes availability?

Sure! An example of a system that prioritizes availability is Amazon DynamoDB. It allows for high availability and partition tolerance, but it may sacrifice consistency during network partitions.

What about a system that focuses on consistency?

A good example of a system that focuses on consistency is Google Spanner. It ensures strong consistency across distributed nodes, but this can impact availability during network issues.

How do developers decide which properties to prioritize?

Developers typically assess the specific needs of their application, such as user experience requirements, data integrity needs, and expected load. This helps them determine which properties to prioritize based on trade-offs.