CDN
A CDN (Content Delivery Network) is a network of servers distributed globally to deliver content faster by reducing latency. It enhances performance, reliability, and security for websites and applications.
Detailed Explanation:
A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a system of geographically distributed servers designed to improve the speed, reliability, and security of delivering web content. CDNs work by caching website data, such as HTML pages, images, videos, and scripts, on multiple servers located in various regions around the world.
When a user requests content from a website, the CDN directs the request to the nearest server in the network. This minimizes latency—the time it takes for data to travel between the server and the user—resulting in faster load times and an improved user experience.
CDNs are particularly beneficial for websites and applications with a global audience, as they reduce the physical distance between users and the servers. Additionally, CDNs offer other advantages:
- Scalability: They can handle high traffic volumes by distributing the load across multiple servers.
- Security: CDNs provide protection against Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks by absorbing malicious traffic.
- Reliability: By routing requests to alternative servers during outages, CDNs ensure content remains accessible.