Conflict-free Replicated Data Type, or CRDT, is a data structure that eases the replication of data across multiple machines in a network, allowing all replicas to converge to a consistent state without the need for a central authority. This system makes it possible for distributed applications to function seamlessly even in the face of network partitions, or the temporary unavailability of a portion of the network. Think about CRDTs like the different ledgers held by banks. If you travel and use your credit card in various places, all these transactions are marked in your ledger. However, each bank has to reconcile these transactions in their own ledger. The method they use, quite similar to CRDTs, ensures consistency across every ledger. Core concepts include state-based CRDTs, operation-based CRDTs, and delta-state CRDTs. These types reflect the different ways in which changes are propagated through the replicas. We'll explore these types and more in subsequent lessons, as well as the crucial link between CRDTs and the CAP theorem in the world of distributed systems.

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if __name__ == "__main__":

  #Typical implementation of CRDT is absent since programming examples would be more suited to other screens in the lesson that dives deeper into specific types of CRDTs.

  print('Welcome to the introduction to CRDT Theory. Keep going!')