Description: Changing the replication factor in distributed databases refers to the process of modifying the number of copies of data stored in the database cluster. This factor determines how many replicas of each piece of data are kept on different nodes, directly influencing the system’s availability and fault tolerance. A higher replication factor means more copies of the data, which can improve resilience against node failures but may also increase disk space usage and write times. Conversely, a lower replication factor can lead to more efficient resource usage but at the cost of reduced availability. This factor can be changed at any time, allowing administrators to adjust the configuration according to the changing needs of the application and environment. This process is essential for maintaining a balance between data availability and system performance, and it is one of the features that make distributed databases a popular choice for applications requiring high availability and scalability.
