Exponential backoff.
also: exponential backoff with jitter · backoff · jitter · retry with backoff · retries with backoffWaiting longer between each retry (1 s, 2 s, 4 s…) plus random jitter, so retries don't hammer a struggling service in lockstep.
the two-minute refresher
- Many failures are transient (a network blip, a GC pause): retrying often works.
- Retries amplify load: 100 clients × 3 retries can be 400 requests on an overloaded service.
- Backoff spaces them out; jitter randomises them so clients don't retry at the same instant.
- Cap the attempts (2-3 for user requests), retry only retryable errors, and only idempotent operations.