Microservices characteristics - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What does it mean for a microservice to be 'independently deployable'?

It means each microservice can be updated, tested, and deployed on its own without needing to redeploy the entire system. This allows faster and safer changes.

beginner

Why is 'single responsibility' important in microservices?

Each microservice should focus on one specific business function or capability. This keeps services simple, easier to maintain, and reduces dependencies.

intermediate

How do microservices communicate with each other?

Microservices usually communicate over lightweight protocols like HTTP/REST or messaging queues. This keeps them loosely coupled and flexible.

intermediate

What is meant by 'decentralized data management' in microservices?

Each microservice manages its own database or data storage. This avoids tight coupling and allows services to choose the best data technology for their needs.

intermediate

Explain 'fault isolation' in microservices.

Fault isolation means if one microservice fails, it does not bring down the whole system. Other services continue working, improving overall system reliability.

Which characteristic allows microservices to be updated without affecting others?

A Independent deployability

B Monolithic design

C Shared database

D Tight coupling

Independent deployability means each microservice can be deployed separately without impacting others.

What is a common way microservices communicate?

A Direct database access

B HTTP/REST or messaging

C Shared memory

D File system polling

Microservices typically use HTTP/REST or messaging queues for communication to stay loosely coupled.

Why do microservices have decentralized data management?

A To allow each service to manage its own data

B To avoid data duplication

C To share one big database

D To simplify transactions

Decentralized data management lets each microservice control its own database, reducing coupling.

What does 'single responsibility' mean for microservices?

A One service handles all functions

B Services have no responsibilities

C Services share responsibilities

D Each service handles one business function

Single responsibility means each microservice focuses on one specific business capability.

What is the benefit of fault isolation in microservices?

A All services fail together

B Faster failure propagation

C Failures in one service don't affect others

D No need for monitoring

Fault isolation ensures one service failure does not bring down the entire system.

Describe the key characteristics that make microservices scalable and maintainable.

Think about how microservices handle updates, data, and failures.

Explain how communication between microservices is designed to keep the system flexible.

Consider how services avoid tight connections.