CAP Theorem: The CAP Theorem, also known as Brewer’s Theorem, states that a distributed data store can only simultaneously provide two out of three guarantees: Consistency, Availability, and Partition Tolerance.
Analogy: Imagine a team of chefs trying to keep a dish consistent (all plates identical), available (always ready to serve), and tolerant to ingredient shortages (Partition Tolerance). They can’t achieve all three perfectly at the same time.
Why It Matters: A fundamental concept in distributed systems design, guiding trade-off decisions based on system requirements.