CAP Theorem Simulator — Interactive System Design Lab

Interact with a live distributed system and toggle network partitions to see how real databases choose between consistency and availability. Understand why every distributed database makes this tradeoff and what it means for your interview answers.

Visualise consistency vs. availability under network partition.

This free interactive simulation runs directly in your browser — no account needed. Adjust the parameters and watch how the system responds in real time.

Concepts covered

• CAP theorem
• consistency
• availability
• partition tolerance
• distributed systems

Read the guide

• Consistency & Availability — The eternal trade-off. Learn why you can't have it all (CAP), how to handle the 99% of time when things ARE working (PACELC), and how to tune your truth.