Glossary

Quorum (R+W>N)

Require overlapping majorities for reads and writes so reads see the latest write.

1 min read·5 sections
Open the interactive version → diagrams, practice & more

Definition

Require overlapping majorities for reads and writes so reads see the latest write.

How it works

Write to W replicas, read from R; if R+W>N they overlap. Bigger quorums = stronger consistency, higher latency.

Learn more on SystemLore

Common questions

What is Quorum (R+W>N)?

Require overlapping majorities for reads and writes so reads see the latest write.

How does Quorum (R+W>N) work?

Write to W replicas, read from R; if R+W>N they overlap. Bigger quorums = stronger consistency, higher latency.

What is Quorum (R+W>N) used for in system design?

Write to W replicas, read from R; if R+W>N they overlap. Bigger quorums = stronger consistency, higher latency.

Part of Glossary on SystemLore — system design explained with 148 deep topics, interactive diagrams, and a build-it-yourself game. Build this one →