In the context of the CAP theorem, "A" stands for Availability and "P" stands for Partition Tolerance. Here is a detailed explanation of each and the difference between them:
Availability (A)
Availability means that every request received by a non-failing node in the system must result in a response. This implies that the system should always be operational and able to process requests, even if some of the nodes are down. In other words, the system should be able to provide a response to any client request, regardless of the state of individual nodes within the system[1][3][5].
Partition Tolerance (P)
Partition Tolerance refers to the system's ability to continue functioning even when network partitions occur. A network partition happens when there is a communication breakdown between nodes, causing the system to be split into multiple isolated sub-systems. Despite these partitions, the system should still be able to operate and provide service[1][3][5].
Difference Between Availability and Partition Tolerance
The key difference between Availability and Partition Tolerance lies in their focus:
Availability ensures that the system remains responsive and operational, providing a response to every request, even if some nodes are down. It prioritizes the system's ability to serve request...
