Master-Slave Architecture
Master-Slave Architecture is a design pattern in computing where one central component (the master) controls and coordinates one or more subordinate components (the slaves). The master typically manages tasks, distributes work, and handles communication, while the slaves execute assigned operations and report back. This pattern is commonly used in distributed systems, databases, and hardware configurations to improve scalability, reliability, and performance.
Developers should learn this architecture when building systems that require load balancing, fault tolerance, or parallel processing, such as in database replication, distributed computing frameworks, or robotics. It is particularly useful in scenarios where a single point of control is needed to manage multiple resources efficiently, though it has been largely replaced by more modern patterns like leader-follower or primary-replica due to its non-inclusive terminology and potential single points of failure.