• Home
  • Archive
  • Tools
  • Contact Us

The Customize Windows

Technology Journal

  • Cloud Computing
  • Computer
  • Digital Photography
  • Windows 7
  • Archive
  • Cloud Computing
  • Virtualization
  • Computer and Internet
  • Digital Photography
  • Android
  • Sysadmin
  • Electronics
  • Big Data
  • Virtualization
  • Downloads
  • Web Development
  • Apple
  • Android
Advertisement
You are here: Home » CAP Theorem Explained

By Abhishek Ghosh January 28, 2021 6:23 am Updated on January 28, 2021

CAP Theorem Explained

Advertisement

The CAP theorem or Brewers Theorem states that in a distributed system it is impossible to simultaneously guarantee the three properties – Consistency, Availability and Partition tolerance (failure tolerance). According to the CAP theorem, a distributed system can meet two of the following properties at the same time, but not all three.

The consistency of the stored data. In distributed systems with replicated data, it is important to ensure that all replicas of the compromised record are updated after a transaction is completed. This consistency should not be confused with the consistency from the ACID transactions, which only affects the internal consistency of a database. Availability in terms of acceptable response times. All requests to the system are always answered. The failure tolerance of the computer/server networks. The system also continues to work when partitioned, i.e. when nodes can no longer communicate with each other (to keep the data consistent with each other). This can occur due to the loss of messages, the failure of individual network nodes, or the cancellation of connections on the network (the partition of the network).

Since only two of these three requirements can be fully met in distributed systems at the same time, the CAP theorem is often visualized as a triangle in which a concrete application can be categorized to one of the edges. However, this is inaccurate. Because the CAP theorem refers to distributed systems, a selection without partition tolerance is not part of the consideration. The interpretation is therefore rather that in the case of network partitioning (i.e. in a case of failure that does not describe the desired system execution), one has to choose between the consistency of the data and the availability of the system.

Advertisement

---

CAP Theorem Explained

 

Real Life Examples of CAP Theorem

 

Domain Name System (DNS)

The Domain Name System is the Internet service that resolves symbolic hostnames such as numeric IP addresses to TCP/IP communication. DNS falls into the AP category. Availability is extremely high, as is tolerance to the failure of individual DNS servers. However, consistency is not always immediate: it can sometimes take days for a modified DNS record to be propagated to the entire DNS hierarchy and thus seen by all clients.

Cloud platforms rely on horizontal scaling, i.e. the load is distributed across many nodes consisting of cheap, not necessarily fail-safe hardware . Therefore, a cloud application must be able to show tolerance to the failure of individual nodes. High availability is also required. It follows that a cloud application (at least in large parts) also falls into the AP category. Examples of web applications that do not require strict consistency would be social media sites such as Twitter or Facebook; if individual messages do not arrive at all users at the same time, the basic function of the service is not affected.

Since a strict consistency can no longer be guaranteed here due to the CAP theorem, but a completely inconsistent data storage is also not desired, one has to accept weaker consistency conditions. As a counterpart to the ACID principle of relational databases, many NoSQL databases rely on the BASE principle. Even consistency can be translated well with “final consistency”, i.e. the system is back in a consistent state after a certain (as short) period of inconsistency as possible.

Relational Database Management System (RDBMS)

The relational databases, such as DB2 or Oracle, primarily strive for consistency. An RDBMS cluster usually falls into the CA category. Above all, they strive for the availability and consistency of all nodes. Because they are mostly operated with highly available networks and servers, they do not necessarily have to be able to handle partitioning well.

Banking Applications

For distributed financial applications such as ATMs, the consistency of the data is paramount: a withdrawn amount of money must be reliably debited to the account page, deposited money must appear on the account. This requirement must also be ensured in the event of traffic disruptions (partition tolerance). Compared to consistency and partition tolerance, availability is secondary(CP): In the event of network disruptions, an ATM or other service should be unavailable rather than handle incorrect transactions.

Tagged With CAP Theorem

This Article Has Been Shared 388 Times!

Facebook Twitter Pinterest

Abhishek Ghosh

About Abhishek Ghosh

Abhishek Ghosh is a Businessman, Surgeon, Author and Blogger. You can keep touch with him on Twitter - @AbhishekCTRL.

Here’s what we’ve got for you which might like :

Articles Related to CAP Theorem Explained

  • Data Analysis as a Cloud Service

    Data Analysis as a Cloud Service is an alternative to internal solutions particularly for the SMEs. The cloud version however has problems. Risks and benefits should be weighed.

  • Business Intelligence Software in Healthcare

    Increased desire for more and better information by different industries resulted in increased sales of BI software solutions including Healthcare.

  • Explained : This site works only in browsers with SNI support

    We have explained the implication of the error message “This site works only in browsers with SNI support”. It is a thing related to IPv4.

  • Serverless Computing Test Drive : IBM OpenWhisk RSS Package

    Here Is Serverless Computing Test Drive Step By Step Guide For Complete Newbies With IBM OpenWhisk RSS Package And IBM Bluemix Free Trial.

  • How To Create WordPress Blog At Low Budget Using Cloud Services

    Here is How To Create WordPress Blog At Low Budget Using Cloud Services for the Users Who Are Not Used With SEO, SSH, Web Hosting, CDN, HTTPS.

Additionally, performing a search on this website can help you. Also, we have YouTube Videos.

Take The Conversation Further ...

We'd love to know your thoughts on this article.
Meet the Author over on Twitter to join the conversation right now!

If you want to Advertise on our Article or want a Sponsored Article, you are invited to Contact us.

Contact Us

Subscribe To Our Free Newsletter

Get new posts by email:

Please Confirm the Subscription When Approval Email Will Arrive in Your Email Inbox as Second Step.

Search this website…

 

Popular Articles

Our Homepage is best place to find popular articles!

Here Are Some Good to Read Articles :

  • Cloud Computing Service Models
  • What is Cloud Computing?
  • Cloud Computing and Social Networks in Mobile Space
  • ARM Processor Architecture
  • What Camera Mode to Choose
  • Indispensable MySQL queries for custom fields in WordPress
  • Windows 7 Speech Recognition Scripting Related Tutorials

Social Networks

  • Pinterest (24.3K Followers)
  • Twitter (5.8k Followers)
  • Facebook (5.7k Followers)
  • LinkedIn (3.7k Followers)
  • YouTube (1.3k Followers)
  • GitHub (Repository)
  • GitHub (Gists)
Looking to publish sponsored article on our website?

Contact us

Recent Posts

  • Exploring the Benefits and Advantages of Microsoft’s Operating System March 22, 2023
  • Web Design Cookbook: Accessibility March 21, 2023
  • Online Dating: How to Find Your Match March 20, 2023
  • Web Design Cookbook: Logo March 19, 2023
  • How Starlink Internet Works March 17, 2023

About This Article

Cite this article as: Abhishek Ghosh, "CAP Theorem Explained," in The Customize Windows, January 28, 2021, March 23, 2023, https://thecustomizewindows.com/2021/01/cap-theorem-explained/.

Source:The Customize Windows, JiMA.in

PC users can consult Corrine Chorney for Security.

Want to know more about us? Read Notability and Mentions & Our Setup.

Copyright © 2023 - The Customize Windows | dESIGNed by The Customize Windows

Copyright  · Privacy Policy  · Advertising Policy  · Terms of Service  · Refund Policy

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT