Fault tolerance

Fault tolerance is a system's ability to continue functioning even when one or more of its components fail. In everyday terms, think of it like a backup plan: when a part of a machine, computer, or network breaks down, fault-tolerant systems automatically switch to spare parts or alternate processes to keep running. This ensures that services remain available, data is protected, and disruptions are minimized. Common examples include redundant power supplies in data centers or multiple hard drives that copy each other’s data, so if one fails, another takes over seamlessly.