Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science

Which term describes the ability of a system to work around problems?

1. Fault Tolerance

2. Scalability

3. Redundancy

4. Protocol

The correct answer is: Fault Tolerance

Fault tolerance refers to the capability of a system to continue functioning properly in the event of the failure of some of its components. This characteristic allows a system to withstand errors or unexpected behavior without failing completely. It achieves this through various means, such as implementing error detection and recovery mechanisms, allowing the system to identify problems and adapt to them accordingly. For a system to be fault-tolerant, it can utilize redundancy—having extra components or systems that can take over if the primary ones fail. However, this redundancy is a strategy used to enhance fault tolerance, not the definition itself. Scalability focuses on a system's ability to handle increased load or expand in size without sacrificing performance. Protocol refers to a set of rules or conventions for communication between network devices and does not directly relate to the resilience of a system in the face of problems. Thus, the correct term that encapsulates the ability of a system to work around problems is fault tolerance, highlighting its importance in maintaining uninterrupted service and reliability.