Consistent hashing explained

Consistent hashing is a technique used in distributed systems to distribute data across multiple nodes while minimizing the impact of changes in node availability. It involves representing requests and server nodes as points on a virtual ring, with each request being served by the closest node in a clockwise direction. This approach ensures that only a portion of the requests will be affected by a given change in the cluster size, making it more efficient than classic hashing methods. Consistent hashing is used in various distributed systems, such as Amazon's Dynamo storage system and Riak key-value database, to balance load evenly across nodes and minimize the need for data redistribution when nodes are added or removed.