What is a CDN and how does it work?

What is a CDN and how does it work?

A CDN, or Content Delivery Network, is a network of servers that are distributed across different locations around the world. These servers work together to deliver content to users more efficiently, by storing and serving content from the server that is closest to the user.

CDNs are typically used to deliver content such as images, videos, and other static files that take up a lot of bandwidth and would otherwise put a strain on a website's origin server. By using a CDN, these files can be delivered to users more quickly and efficiently, improving the overall performance of the website.

So how does a CDN work? When a user accesses a website that is using a CDN, the CDN will redirect the user's request to the server that is closest to their location. This means that the user will receive the content from a server that is nearby, rather than having to wait for the content to be delivered from the website's origin server, which may be located on the other side of the world.

The CDN will also keep a cached copy of the content on each of its servers, so that if multiple users request the same content, it can be delivered to them more quickly. This helps to reduce the load on the origin server and improve the overall performance of the website.

Overall, a CDN is a powerful tool for improving the performance and speed of a website. By using a network of distributed servers, a CDN can deliver content to users more efficiently and help to reduce the strain on a website's origin server.

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