What are some real-world examples of idempotency?

What are some real-world examples of idempotency?

Idempotency is a concept where an operation can be applied multiple times without changing the result beyond the initial application. A common example is in web APIs, where a DELETE request to remove a resource should have the same effect whether it's called once or multiple times.

Can you give me more examples in different contexts?

Sure! In banking, transferring the same amount of money to the same account multiple times should only affect the account balance once. In database operations, updating a record with the same data multiple times should not change the outcome after the first update.

How does idempotency help in software development?

Idempotency helps in error handling and ensures that repeated requests do not lead to unintended side effects, making systems more robust and reliable.

Are there any drawbacks to using idempotency?

One drawback is that implementing idempotency can add complexity to the system, as developers need to ensure that operations are designed to be idempotent.