What are some real-world use cases of eventual consistency?

What are some real-world use cases of eventual consistency?

Eventual consistency is often used in distributed databases like Amazon DynamoDB and Apache Cassandra. For example, in social media platforms, user posts may be replicated across multiple servers, ensuring that all users eventually see the same content, even if there are temporary discrepancies.

Can you give me more examples?

Sure! Another example is in online shopping carts. When a user adds an item to their cart, the system may not immediately reflect this change across all devices, but it will eventually synchronize to ensure consistency.

What are the benefits of using eventual consistency?

The main benefits include improved availability and performance, as systems can continue to operate even during network partitions. It also allows for greater scalability in distributed systems.

Are there any drawbacks?

Yes, the main drawback is that users may see stale data temporarily, which can lead to confusion or errors, especially in critical applications.