---
answer: direct
beat: system-design
source: 1 article · updated: August 9, 2026
---

How does consistent hashing fix that?

Both nodes and keys map to positions on a circle. A key belongs to the next node encountered walking clockwise. When you add a node, it lands on the circle between two existing nodes. Only keys in that arc rebalance. The other arcs stay pointing to the same node.

Answered in

When 87% of Your Cache Vanishes

Consistent hashing maps nodes and keys to a circle, so adding a server moves only 1/N of keys instead of almost all of them.

Crashtech Editorial August 9, 2026 System Design & Architecture

Read the full analysis

Other questions this article answers

More system design & architecture questions

Every answer on Crashtech is written by the editor of the article it comes from — never auto-summarised. Browse all answers or the System Design & Architecture beat.