CQRS
n.n. Stands for Command Query Responsibility Segregation. A way of building computer programs where the part that changes data is kept separate from the part that reads data.
n. Abbreviation for Command Query Responsibility Segregation. An architectural pattern that separates the models for reading and writing data, allowing each to be optimised independently for performance and scalability.
The team used CQRS to handle the high volume of user requests.
By implementing CQRS, the developers could scale the read database separately from the write database to improve system speed.
While CQRS adds significant architectural complexity, it is often necessary in distributed systems where high availability and complex business logic require distinct data models for updates and queries.
An initialism for Command Query Responsibility Segregation. The term was coined by Greg Young in 2010, based on the principle of Command-Query Separation formulated by Bertrand Meyer.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Commonly used in the context of microservices and domain-driven design.
Last updated July 22, 2026