juniorCAP Theorem
Who formulated the CAP Theorem?
Updated Apr 28, 2026
Short answer
Eric Brewer first proposed it in 2000, and it was formally proven by Seth Gilbert and Nancy Lynch in 2002.
Deep explanation
The CAP Theorem is a fundamental principle in distributed systems design. Eric Brewer first proposed it in 2000, and it was formally proven by Seth Gilbert and Nancy Lynch in 2002. It forces architects to acknowledge that trade-offs are unavoidable in wide-area networks.
Real-world example
A single-node relational database behaves as CA until it scales horizontally.
Common mistakes
- Thinking CAP applies to systems that aren't distributed (like a single-instance DB).
Follow-up questions
- Is CAP relevant for single-core apps?