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An illustrated proof of the CAP theorem (2018)


The CAP Theorem is a fundamental theorem in distributed systems that states any distributed system can have at most two of the following three properties. This guide will summarize Gilbert and Lynch's specification and proof of the CAP Theorem with pictures! The CAP theorem states that a distributed system cannot simultaneously be consistent, available, and partition tolerant.

The CAP theorem states that a distributed system cannot simultaneously be consistent, available, and partition tolerant. Now that we've acquainted ourselves with the notion of consistency, availability, and partition tolerance, we can prove that a system cannot simultaneously have all three. Assume for contradiction that there does exist a system that is consistent, available, and partition tolerant.

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