How does DynamoDB handle eventual consistency in reads?

DynamoDB handles eventual consistency in reads by allowing potential stale data after writes. This means that when a write operation occurs, it may take some time for that change to be reflected in subsequent read operations. With eventual consistency, DynamoDB is designed to provide a highly available and partition-tolerant service, and as a result, there may be a lag in the propagation of updated data across the system.

When a read request is made, the data returned may not reflect the most recent write operations if those updates have not yet propagated through the system. This allows for faster response times and reduced latency compared to strong consistency models, which require the latest data to be available before returning a response.

This characteristic of eventual consistency is beneficial because it enhances the performance and scalability of the database. Users of DynamoDB need to be aware of this behavior, as it influences how they design their applications and manage data consistency requirements.