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15 CAP Theorem interview questions

Only coding challenges

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CAP Theorem Fundamentals

1.
What is CAP Theorem and why it’s important for distributed systems?
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2.
How does the CAP Theorem define consistency in the context of a distributed system?
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3.
What does availability mean in CAP Theorem?
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4.
Explain partition tolerance in a distributed system as stated by the CAP Theorem.
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Real-World Implications and Trade-offs

5.
Give an example of a real system that favors consistency over availability.
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6.
Can you name a system that prefers availability over consistency?
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7.
What is meant by “eventual consistency” in the context of CAP Theorem?
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8.
What trade-offs you might have to make in a distributed system design due to the CAP Theorem.
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Designing with CAP in Mind

9.
How would you design a system that requires high availability and what trade-offs would you have to make according to the CAP Theorem?
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10.
If a system is experiencing a partition (network failure), what strategies can you employ to maintain service?
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11.
Considering the CAP Theorem, how would you approach building a distributed system that handles sensitive financial transactions?
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CAP in Practice

12.
Describe a scenario where a system may switch from being CA to AP during its operation due to external factors.
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13.
How do quorums help in achieving consistency or availability in distributed systems, and how is this related to CAP Theorem?
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14.
How do modern databases like Cassandra or DynamoDB address the challenges posed by the CAP Theorem?
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Advanced Understanding of CAP

15.
Explain how concepts like idempotency, commutativity, and convergence are important in designs that are influenced by the CAP Theorem.
Answer:

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