What is scalable?

Scalability refers to the ability of a system, network, or process to handle a growing amount of work in a capable manner or to be readily enlarged. In computing, it is the capability of a system to increase its total output under an increased load when resources (typically hardware) are added. Scalability can refer to the ability of a system to handle increased load without performance degradation, or the ability to be readily enlarged. It is commonly used in areas such as databases, cloud computing, and web services to ensure systems can adapt to increasing user demands and data volumes.