What is CAP theorem and how does it relate to NoSQL databases?

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What is CAP theorem and how does it relate to NoSQL databases?

The CAP theorem, also known as Brewer's theorem, states that it is impossible for a distributed computer system to simultaneously provide consistency (C), availability (A), and partition tolerance (P). Consistency refers to all nodes in a distributed system having the same data at the same time, availability refers to the system being always accessible and responsive, and partition tolerance refers to the system's ability to continue functioning even if there are network failures or partitions.

NoSQL databases, which are designed to handle large amounts of unstructured or semi-structured data, often prioritize availability and partition tolerance over consistency. This means that in the event of a network partition or failure, NoSQL databases may sacrifice consistency to ensure that the system remains available and responsive. Therefore, NoSQL databases are said to be "CP" or "AP" systems, where they prioritize either consistency and partition tolerance or availability and partition tolerance, respectively.