What does "consistency" mean in programming?

consistency is one of the most common terms in software development. This guide explains what it means, how it is used in practice, and why it matters, with real examples from the developer world.

Definition

The property of a system behaving the same way given the same inputs. In databases (ACID), consistency means data remains valid after any transaction. In APIs, consistency means endpoints follow the same naming and structure conventions.

Example

"All API endpoints follow the same naming convention — consistency makes the API easier to learn."

Related terms

reliability
correctness
durability
eventual consistency

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