CRDTs
CRDTs (Conflict-free Replicated Data Types) are data structures designed for distributed systems that allow concurrent updates across multiple replicas without requiring coordination or consensus, ensuring eventual consistency. They enable applications like collaborative editing, real-time synchronization, and peer-to-peer networks by automatically resolving conflicts through mathematical properties. CRDTs are particularly useful in scenarios where low latency and high availability are prioritized over strong consistency.
Developers should learn CRDTs when building distributed applications that require real-time collaboration, offline-first capabilities, or decentralized architectures, such as collaborative document editors (e.g., Google Docs), multiplayer games, or IoT systems. They are essential for avoiding complex conflict resolution logic and ensuring data integrity in environments with network partitions or intermittent connectivity, as they guarantee convergence without manual intervention.