Elastic Scaling
Elastic scaling is a cloud computing concept where system resources (such as compute, storage, or network capacity) automatically adjust in real-time based on current demand, allowing applications to handle varying workloads efficiently. It enables infrastructure to scale up (add resources) during peak usage and scale down (remove resources) during low usage, optimizing performance and cost. This is typically implemented through automated monitoring and provisioning mechanisms in cloud platforms.
Developers should learn elastic scaling to build resilient and cost-effective applications that can handle traffic spikes (e.g., during sales events or viral content) without over-provisioning resources. It is essential for modern web services, microservices architectures, and data-intensive applications where demand fluctuates unpredictably, ensuring high availability while minimizing operational expenses. Use cases include e-commerce platforms, streaming services, and SaaS products with variable user loads.