Scalability in software architecture refers to the ability of a system to handle a growing amount of work or its potential to accommodate growth, whether in terms of user load, data volume, or complexity. A scalable system is designed to maintain or improve performance and efficiency as it scales up. This capability is crucial for systems that anticipate increases in user traffic or data processing needs without requiring a complete redesign or significant changes to the underlying architecture[1][2].
There are two primary methods to achieve scalability in system design:
Vertical Scaling (Scaling Up): This involves adding more resources to the existing nodes within the system, such as more powerful CPUs or additional memory. Vertical scaling can be simpler to implement as it often requires fewer changes to the application or its environment. However, it has limitations due to the physical constraints of a single machine and can become cost-prohibitive at higher levels of scale[2].
Horizontal Scaling (Scaling Out): This method involves adding more nodes to the system, effectively distributing the workload across multiple machines. Horizontal scaling offers greater flexibility and fault tolerance...
