Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies (AZ-300) Practice Exam

What does the term "scalability" refer to in computing?

1. The ability of a service to double in size

2. The potential to increase resources without limits

3. The capacity to handle growth in demand effectively

4. The maximum output of a single computational resource

The correct answer is: The capacity to handle growth in demand effectively

Scalability in computing refers to the capacity to handle growth in demand effectively. This means that a system or service can accommodate an increasing workload or can be expanded to manage higher input or output volumes without compromising its performance or availability. When discussing scalability, it’s essential to recognize that it encompasses both vertical scaling, where resources are added to a single node (such as upgrading a server), and horizontal scaling, where additional nodes are added to a network (such as adding more servers). This flexibility allows businesses to align their infrastructure with current demand, making it a critical component of cloud services and architectures. The other concepts mentioned in the options do touch on aspects related to resources and processing capabilities, but they do not encompass the broader definition of scalability. For instance, simply being able to double in size or the potential to increase resources without limits does not inherently define the ability to manage growth effectively. Similarly, focusing solely on the maximum output of a single resource addresses a different metric, which is more about performance limits than the adaptable nature of scalability as a whole.