Glossary

Exponential backoff

Exponential backoff is a retry strategy where wait times grow multiplicatively after each failed attempt: 1 s, 2 s, 4 s, 8 s, up to a configurable maximum. The exponential growth reduces total retry load during sustained outages. It should always be combined with jitter to prevent synchronised retry waves.

Formula: wait_n = min(cap, base × 2^n) + jitter. Common: base=100 ms, cap=30 s, n = attempt from 0.

Last updated: March 2026