How do cloud-native applications differ from traditional applications?

Cloud-native applications are designed specifically for cloud environments, while traditional applications were typically built for on-premises servers. Here’s how they differ:

  • Architecture: Cloud-native applications are built using microservices, meaning they’re broken into smaller, independent components that can be scaled and updated independently. Traditional apps are often monolithic, meaning they run as one large unit.
  • Scalability: Cloud-native apps are designed to scale up or down easily based on demand, while traditional apps often need significant manual intervention to scale.
  • Deployment: Cloud-native apps are deployed using containers, which allow for consistent and portable deployment across various cloud platforms. Traditional apps may require specific infrastructure and can be harder to move.
  • Resilience: Cloud-native apps are designed to be fault-tolerant. If one component fails, the system can continue to run smoothly by rerouting traffic. Traditional apps often lack this built-in resilience.

In short, cloud-native applications are designed to fully take advantage of the flexibility, scalability, and resilience of the cloud, making them more efficient and adaptable than traditional applications.