CAP Theorem in Action: How Big Tech Handles the Trade-Offs
What is CAP Theorem in System Design? In the world of distributed systems , where data is spread across multiple computers, we often face a big challenge: how to ensure that the system works efficiently while maintaining data consistency. This is where the CAP theorem comes into play. CAP theorem, proposed by Eric Brewer in 2000, states that in any distributed system, we can only achieve two out of three guarantees: Consistency (C), Availability (A), and Partition Tolerance (P). Let’s break it down in simple terms with real-world examples. Understanding CAP Theorem The CAP theorem suggests that any distributed system can only satisfy two out of these three properties at the same time: Consistency (C): Every request receives the most recent data or an error if the data is not available. Availability (A): Every request gets a response, even if some nodes in the system fail. Partition Tolerance (P): The system continues to function even if network communication betwee...