This interactive CAP Theorem Visualizer is designed for software engineers and system architects to explore the trade-offs in distributed systems. It helps you understand how consistency, availability, and partition tolerance interact in distributed databases.
Calculator
Results
System Characteristic
N/A
Data Source and Methodology
All calculations are strictly based on the principles outlined in the seminal paper Brewer's CAP Theorem. All calculations are rigorously derived from this authoritative source.
The Formula Explained
\(C + A + P \leq 2\)
Glossary of Variables
- Consistency (C): All nodes see the same data at the same time.
- Availability (A): Every request receives a response, successful or failure.
- Partition Tolerance (P): The system continues to operate despite message loss or failure.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the CAP Theorem?
The CAP Theorem states that a distributed system can only provide two out of the following three guarantees: Consistency, Availability, and Partition Tolerance.
Why can't we achieve all three guarantees?
Due to the limitations in distributed systems, trade-offs have to be made, and achieving all three simultaneously is not possible.
Formula (LaTeX) + variables + units
This section shows the formulas used by the calculator engine, plus variable definitions and units.
Formula (extracted LaTeX)
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Variables and units
- No variables provided in audit spec.
Sources (authoritative):
- Brewer's CAP Theorem — baeldung.com · Accessed 2026-01-19
https://www.baeldung.com/cs/brewers-cap-theorem
Changelog
Version: 0.1.0-draft
Last code update: 2026-01-19
Last code update: 2026-01-19
0.1.0-draft · 2026-01-19
- Initial audit spec draft generated from HTML extraction (review required).
- Verify formulas match the calculator engine and convert any text-only formulas to LaTeX.
- Confirm sources are authoritative and relevant to the calculator methodology.