What Does 'CDN (Content Delivery Network)' Mean?

A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a globally distributed network of servers that work together to deliver content to users as efficiently as possible. CDNs are used to distribute a wide variety of content, including web pages, videos, and images, to users around the world.

CDNs are designed to improve the performance and availability of websites and other online services by reducing the distance between the content and the user.

When a user requests content from a website, the CDN will redirect the request to the server that is closest to the user’s location. This helps reduce the amount of time it takes for the content to be delivered to the user, improving the overall user experience.

CDNs also make websites more reliable and accessible by spreading content across multiple servers. If one server goes down, the CDN can redirect traffic to another server, ensuring that users can still access the content they need.

More information

There are many different types of CDNs, including traditional CDNs, which use a network of servers to deliver content, and cloud-based CDNs, which use a network of cloud-based servers to deliver content. CDNs can also be put into groups based on the type of content they send. For example, video CDNs are better at sending video content, while image CDNs are better at sending images.

CDNs are used by a wide range of websites and online services, including large e-commerce sites, social media platforms, and media streaming services. They are particularly useful for websites with a global audience, as they can help to improve the speed and reliability of the website for users in different parts of the world.

CDNs are an important tool for improving the performance and availability of websites and online services. By distributing content across a globally distributed network of servers, CDNs help to ensure that users can access the content they need as quickly and reliably as possible.