What is Distributed System?
A Distributed System in system design is a collection of independent computers (called nodes or servers) that work together as a single system to achieve a common goal.
🔍 Simple Explanation:
Imagine a big task is too much for one person, so it's divided among several people working in different rooms — each does their part and communicates with others. That’s how a distributed system works.
⚙️ Key Features:
- Multiple Machines: Spread across different locations or networks
- Communication: Nodes talk over a network (usually via APIs or messages)
- Coordination: They work together to complete tasks
- Fault Tolerance: If one machine fails, others can keep the system running
- Scalability: You can add more machines easily to handle more load
🧠 Real-life Examples:
- Google Search – Uses thousands of servers
- Netflix, Facebook, Amazon – All built on distributed systems
- Cloud Computing – A classic case of distributed architecture
🧵 In short:
A distributed system = teamwork across computers to handle large-scale applications efficiently and reliably.