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# Performance vs scalability

## Performance vs scalability

A service is scalable if it results in increased performance in a manner proportional to resources added. Generally, increasing performance means serving more units of work, but it can also be to handle larger units of work, such as when datasets grow.[1](http://www.allthingsdistributed.com/2006/03/a_word_on_scalability.html) 

Another way to look at performance vs scalability:

- If you have a performance problem, your system is slow for a single user.
- If you have a scalability problem, your system is fast for a single user but slow under heavy load.

## Source(s) and further reading

- [A word on scalability](http://www.allthingsdistributed.com/2006/03/a_word_on_scalability.html) 
- [Scalability, availability, stability, patterns](http://www.slideshare.net/jboner/scalability-availability-stability-patterns/)