Final answer:
The fundamental characteristic of a repository architecture is centralized storage of data. This allows for easy access, management, and ensures data consistency and integrity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The fundamental characteristic of a repository architecture is centralized storage of data. In a repository architecture, all data is stored in a central location, which allows for easy access and management. This centralization helps ensure data consistency and integrity, as well as simplifies the maintenance and backup processes.
For example, a common application of a repository architecture is a version control system like Git. In Git, all code changes are stored in a central repository, which allows multiple developers to collaborate on a project and keep track of its history.
In contrast, a distributed storage architecture would distribute data across multiple locations, such as in a peer-to-peer network or a distributed file system like Hadoop's HDFS.