What is Distributed System?
A system where components run on multiple computers that coordinate to appear as a single system.
Why It Matters
Distributed systems enable applications to scale beyond the limits of a single machine and stay available during failures.
Real-World Example
Netflix runs on thousands of servers across the globe but appears as one seamless service to users.
“Understanding terms like Distributed System 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
Microservices
An architecture where an application is built as many small, independent services that work together
CAP Theorem
A principle stating that a distributed database can only guarantee two of three properties: Consistency, Availability, and Partition tolerance.
Load Balancer
A system that distributes incoming traffic across multiple servers to prevent any one from being overwhelmed
Replication
Copying data from one database server to others so multiple servers have the same information.
Learn More at buildDay Melbourne
Want to understand these concepts hands-on? Join our one-day workshop and build a real web application from scratch.
Related Terms
Load Balancer
A system that distributes incoming traffic across multiple servers to prevent any one from being overwhelmed
Microservices
An architecture where an application is built as many small, independent services that work together
Replication
Copying data from one database server to others so multiple servers have the same information.
CAP Theorem
A principle stating that a distributed database can only guarantee two of three properties: Consistency, Availability,...
Monolith
An application where all features are built and deployed as a single unit
Static Site
A website with pre-built pages that are the same for every visitor