CAP Theorem in NoSQL Databases
Quick Answer
The CAP Theorem states that a distributed data system can only guarantee two out of three properties: Consistency, Availability, and Partition Tolerance. NoSQL databases often prioritize different pairs based on use cases, influencing their design and behavior.
Learning Objectives
- Explain the three components of the CAP Theorem: Consistency, Availability, and Partition Tolerance.
- Understand how the CAP Theorem applies to NoSQL databases like MongoDB.
- Identify trade-offs made by distributed databases based on CAP constraints.
Introduction
Distributed databases face unique challenges in balancing data consistency, availability, and network reliability.
The CAP Theorem provides a framework to understand these trade-offs in NoSQL systems like MongoDB.
You can only have two out of three: Consistency, Availability, and Partition Tolerance.





