What is the significance of using "Read Scale-out" in Azure SQL Database?

The significance of using "Read Scale-out" in Azure SQL Database lies in its ability to effectively distribute read-only query workloads across multiple replicas. This feature is particularly useful in scenarios where applications experience high read traffic, allowing them to offload read queries to several replicas rather than relying on the primary database. By spreading the read workload, it enhances performance, reduces latency for end-users, and improves overall scalability of the database system.

When read operations are offloaded to read replicas, the primary database can focus on handling write operations and other critical tasks. This separation of concerns not only optimizes resource usage but also helps in maintaining a responsive application experience during peak usage times. Thus, enabling Read Scale-out contributes significantly to both performance and scalability in Azure SQL Database environments.