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The 🌐 CAP Theorem, also known as Brewer’s Theorem, is a fundamental principle in distributed systems, proposed by Eric Brewer in 2000 and later formalized into a 📜 proof by Nancy Lynch and her colleagues in 2002. It provides a framework for understanding the 🎮 trade-offs involved in designing distributed 📁 databases and systems.
Key Components of CAP Theorem
CAP stands for Consistency, Availability, and Partition Tolerance:
- Consistency ©: Every 🔎 read operation receives the most recent 🖋️ write or an ⚠️ error. This implies that all 🧬 nodes in a distributed system reflect the same 📊 data at any given time.
- Availability (A): Every request (🔎 read or 🖋️ write) receives a 📧 response, regardless of whether it is ✅ successful or ❌ fails. This ensures the system remains 🌐 operational and responsive.
- Partition Tolerance (P): The system continues to operate even if there is a 🌐 network partition that prevents communication between some 🧬 nodes. This is a critical requirement for distributed systems deployed over unreliable 🌐 networks.
The Trade-Off
The CAP Theorem states that it is ❌ impossible for a distributed system to simultaneously guarantee all three 🌐 properties (Consistency, Availability, and Partition Tolerance). A system can…
