What is a distributed system architecture

A distributed system architecture is a model where components located on networked computers communicate and coordinate their actions by passing messages. The components interact with each other in order to achieve a common goal. Here are the steps to understand it:

1. Components: These are the individual systems or software that are networked together. They can be on the same machine or spread across the globe.

2. Networked Computers: The components are located on separate connected computers. The computers can be physically close, like in the same building, or spread out across the world.

3. Communication: The components communicate by passing messages to each other. This can be done in various ways, such as through HTTP/HTTPS protocols, TCP/IP sockets, or even through higher-level software abstractions.

4. Coordination: The components don't just communicate, they also coordinate their actions. This means they work together to achieve a common goal, like delivering a service or computing a result.

5. Common Goal: The whole point of a distributed system is to achieve something that a single system couldn't do on its own. This could be handling more traffic, storing more data, or computing something faster.

In summary, a distributed system architecture is a model for designing systems that are spread out across multiple computers but work together as a single unit.