In the technical post “Lessons Learned: Sharding for startups,” the author dives into the concept of database scalability through parallel databases known as “sharding.” The term “sharding” was inspired by early online games like Friendster and Flickr, where multiple copies of a game world were referred to as “shards.” This innovative approach to database partitioning allowed for different worlds to evolve parallel to each other. The author delves into the origins of the term and its application in the gaming industry, shedding light on the evolution of database technology.
https://www.raphkoster.com/2009/01/08/database-sharding-came-from-uo/