Retry logic automatically attempts operations again when they fail due to transient errors. Intelligent retry handling improves reliability without creating duplicate actions or overwhelming systems.
How does retry logic work?
When an operation fails with a recoverable error, the system waits briefly and tries again. Strategies include exponential backoff (increasing wait times between attempts), jitter (randomizing delays to prevent thundering herd), and maximum attempt limits. Idempotent operations can be safely retried; others require careful handling.
Why does retry logic matter?
Network glitches, temporary service unavailability, and brief overloads are common in distributed systems. Without retry logic, these transient issues cause unnecessary failures. Proper retry handling recovers gracefully from temporary problems while avoiding infinite loops or duplicate side effects.
Retry logic in practice
An AI agent attempts to book an appointment but the calendar API times out. Retry logic waits 200ms and tries again. The second attempt succeeds. The caller experiences a brief pause rather than a failed interaction. If multiple retries fail, the agent gracefully explains the issue and offers alternatives.