CAP Theorem: Understanding Consistency, Availability and Partition Tolerance in System Design

Learn the fundamental principles of distributed systems through an 11-minute video lecture exploring the CAP theorem - a crucial concept in system design. Dive into the three key components: Consistency (ensuring all nodes see the same data), Availability (guaranteeing system responsiveness), and Partition Tolerance (maintaining functionality despite network failures). Explore real-world trade-offs between these properties through practical examples and understand why distributed systems can only guarantee two out of these three properties simultaneously. Master the differences between AP (Availability/Partition Tolerance), CP (Consistency/Partition Tolerance), and CA (Consistency/Availability) systems to make informed architectural decisions for your distributed applications.