What is 'scalability' in the context of databases?

Scalability in the context of databases refers to the capability of a database system to handle increasing amounts of work, which includes the ability to accommodate an increasing volume of data, more concurrent users, or greater transaction loads without a significant drop in performance. This characteristic is crucial for systems that need to adapt to growing demand, as it ensures that the database can expand its resources or capabilities seamlessly as the workload increases.

When a database is scalable, organizations can anticipate growth and plan for it without needing drastic changes to their infrastructure. It allows a database to expand either vertically (by adding more power to existing machines) or horizontally (by adding more machines to handle load). Scalability is vital for applications that may experience variable workloads or that expect to expand over time, such as web applications and large enterprise systems.

The other options, while related to database functionality, focus on different aspects. Data compression pertains to storage efficiency rather than handling increasing workloads. Maintaining performance during peak load relates more to performance optimization rather than scalability itself. Finally, integration with other systems addresses interoperability rather than the database's ability to handle growth.