Distributed Systems vs. Centralized Systems

Distributed systems spread tasks across multiple independent computers that work together, sharing information to achieve common goals. This setup enhances reliability and scalability, as if a team collaborates on a project from different locations. In contrast, centralized systems rely on a single main computer that handles all tasks and data processing. This setup simplifies management and security but can become a bottleneck or a single point of failure. Think of a distributed system as a team of specialists working remotely, while a centralized system is like a single office handling everything.