Elastic Computing
Elastic computing is a cloud computing concept where computing resources can be automatically scaled up or down in real-time based on demand. It enables systems to dynamically allocate and deallocate resources like CPU, memory, and storage to match workload requirements. This approach optimizes performance during peak usage while minimizing costs during low-demand periods.
Developers should learn elastic computing when building scalable applications that experience variable traffic patterns, such as e-commerce sites, SaaS platforms, or data processing pipelines. It's essential for handling unpredictable workloads, ensuring high availability, and controlling infrastructure costs by paying only for resources actually consumed. This is particularly valuable in microservices architectures and event-driven systems where resource needs fluctuate rapidly.