Definition
Adaptability refers to a system's capacity to adjust to changing requirements, environments, or workloads without significant disruption or performance degradation. It involves designing systems with flexibility in mind, allowing for easy modification, scaling, and integration of new components or technologies. This attribute is crucial for maintaining operational efficiency, ensuring long term viability, and responding effectively to evolving business needs. For instance, a cloud native application designed with microservices exhibits high adaptability, as individual services can be updated or scaled independently. This differs from rigidity, where a system is difficult to alter once deployed. Adaptability is a key consideration in cloud architecture and system design domains.