Skálázódást

Skálázódást, often translated as scalability, refers to the ability of a system, network, or process to handle an increasing amount of work, or its potential to be enlarged to accommodate that growth. In computing, scalability is a critical characteristic of a system that describes how well it can scale up or down to meet changing demands. This can involve increasing resources, such as adding more servers or upgrading hardware, or optimizing existing resources.

There are generally two main types of scalability: vertical and horizontal. Vertical scalability, also known as scaling up, involves increasing the capacity of an existing node, such as adding more CPU, RAM, or storage to a single server. Horizontal scalability, or scaling out, involves adding more nodes to a system to distribute the workload. This is often achieved by adding more machines to a cluster or farm.

Scalability is important for several reasons. It allows businesses to adapt to fluctuating user demands, ensuring that applications remain responsive and available even during peak times. It also helps in managing costs by allowing systems to be scaled down when demand is low. In the context of software development, designing for scalability from the outset can prevent significant refactoring and costly downtime later on. Poor scalability can lead to performance degradation, increased latency, and ultimately, user dissatisfaction. Therefore, understanding and implementing appropriate scaling strategies is crucial for the success of many modern systems and services.