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I'm reading a book and found this sentence.

Bitcask offers high-performance reads and writes, subject to the requirement that all the keys fit in the available RAM, since the hash map is kept completely in memory.

I don't quite understand the meaning of subject to in it. I looked it up in the dictionary, but I still not sure I understood. In the example sentence, does it mean Bitcast does meet the requirement that all the keys fit in the available RAM?

1 Answer 1

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In this context, subject to is stating a requirement which must be met for the "high-performance reads and writes" to be achieved; in this way, the phrase subject to the requirement would be synonymous with providing, e.g.:

Bitcask offers high-performance reads and writes, providing that all the keys fit in the available RAM, since the hash map is kept completely in memory.

Refer to definition (3) on Merriam-Webster:

subject to (phrasal verb) : dependent on something else to happen or be true
- The sale of the property is subject to approval by the city council.
- All rooms are just $100 a night, subject to availability.

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    +1 Another simpler synonymous phrase would be only if all keys fit in available a RAM.
    – TimR
    Dec 27, 2018 at 23:59
  • @Tᴚoɯɐuo Good alternative!
    – Lee Mac
    Dec 28, 2018 at 0:05
  • @Tᴚoɯɐuo I don't understand "in available a RAM".
    – dan
    Dec 28, 2018 at 0:56
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    "As long as" is my preferred replacement. Dec 28, 2018 at 5:05
  • @Lee Mac, sorry, typo. "in available RAM".
    – TimR
    Dec 28, 2018 at 13:54

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