single point of failure

English

Noun

single point of failure (plural single points of failure)

1. A component in a device, or a point in a network, that, if it were to fail, would cause the entire device or network to fail (normally eliminated by adding redundancy).

   The Jesus nut got its name because it was a single point of failure- if it went, there was nothing you could do but pray.

   Synonyms: SPF, SPOF

2. (by extension) A minor mistake that creates a chain reaction.

   The intact twine in Dylan's beef Wellington was a single point of failure.

Translations

a component in a device, or a point in a network, that, if it were to fail would cause the entire device or network to fail; normally eliminated by adding redundancy

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 單點故障／单点故障

• Finnish: yksittäinen vikaantumispiste
• Swedish: felkritisk systemdel (sv) c