Stateful vs Stateless Architecture
Stateless Architecture
Each request contains all information needed to process it. The server doesn't store client state between requests.
Stateful Architecture
The server maintains client state between requests, remembering previous interactions.
Comparison
| Aspect | Stateless | Stateful |
|---|---|---|
| Scaling | Easy horizontal | Complex |
| Load Balancing | Any server | Sticky sessions |
| Reliability | Server can fail | State loss risk |
Best Practices
- Prefer stateless services for scalability
- Externalize state to databases or caches
- Use JWT tokens instead of server sessions