What is CAP Theorem?
A principle stating that a distributed database can only guarantee two of three properties: Consistency, Availability, and Partition tolerance.
Why It Matters
CAP theorem helps you understand the trade-offs when choosing a database for distributed systems.
Real-World Example
During a network split, a database must choose between returning possibly outdated data (availability) or refusing to respond (consistency).
“Understanding terms like CAP Theorem matters because it helps you have better conversations with developers and make smarter decisions about your software. You do not need to be technical. You just need to know enough to ask the right questions.”
Related Terms
ACID
A set of properties (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) that guarantee database transactions are reliable.
BASE
A database principle (Basically Available, Soft state, Eventually consistent) that prioritises availability over immediate consistency.
Eventual Consistency
A model where data updates propagate gradually and all copies will eventually match, but may differ briefly.
Distributed System
A system where components run on multiple computers that coordinate to appear as a single system.
From definition to deployment
Knowing the term is step one. Using it in something real is the rest.