CAP Theorem
CAP Theorem, also known as Brewer's Theorem, is a fundamental concept in distributed computing that states it is impossible for a distributed data store to simultaneously provide more than two out of three guarantees: Consistency, Availability, and Partition tolerance. It was proposed by computer scientist Eric Brewer in 2000 and formally proven in 2002. The theorem helps developers understand the trade-offs involved in designing distributed systems, particularly in scenarios where network partitions (failures) can occur.
Developers should learn CAP Theorem when designing or working with distributed systems, such as cloud-based applications, microservices architectures, or databases like Cassandra or MongoDB, to make informed decisions about system behavior under network failures. It is crucial for understanding why certain databases prioritize availability over consistency (AP systems) or consistency over availability (CP systems), guiding choices in trade-offs based on application requirements like real-time data access versus data accuracy.