StellarIntroduction to Fault Tolerance
Fault tolerance refers to a system's ability to continue functioning despite the failure of certain components. This concept is fundamental in the design and operation of computing systems and networks, ensuring services remain available even when unexpected failures occur. For example, in systems like the Internet, fault tolerance ensures that data transfer can continue seamlessly, even if hardware failures, network congestion, or other disruptions happen. This feature is crucial for maintaining system reliability and availability, especially for critical applications that cannot afford downtime.