What is the difference between consistency models?

Can you explain what consistency models are in distributed systems?

Sure! Consistency models define the rules for how data is synchronized across distributed systems. They ensure that all nodes see the same data at the same time.

What are the main types of consistency models?

The main types include strong consistency, eventual consistency, causal consistency, and weak consistency. Each has different trade-offs in terms of performance and reliability.

How does strong consistency differ from eventual consistency?

Strong consistency guarantees that all reads return the most recent write, while eventual consistency allows for temporary discrepancies, ensuring that all nodes will eventually converge to the same value.

Can you give an example of where eventual consistency is used?

A common example is in distributed databases like Amazon DynamoDB, where updates may not be immediately visible to all nodes, but they will eventually become consistent.