Master-Slave Replication
Master-slave replication is a data replication model where one database server (the master) handles write operations and propagates changes to one or more replica servers (the slaves), which handle read operations. This architecture improves performance by distributing read queries across multiple servers and enhances availability by providing backup copies of data. It is commonly used in relational databases like MySQL and PostgreSQL, as well as in distributed systems for data synchronization.
Developers should learn master-slave replication when building scalable applications that require high read throughput or fault tolerance, such as e-commerce platforms or content management systems. It is particularly useful for scenarios where read-heavy workloads can be offloaded to replicas, reducing load on the master server and minimizing downtime during failures. However, it has limitations like potential replication lag and complexity in handling write conflicts, which should be considered in design decisions.