A Content Delivery Network, or CDN, also known as a Content Distribution Network, is a widely distributed system of servers. Although these servers are located in different geographical locations, they are interconnected in such a way that Web content can be delivered through the internet.
CDNs aim to deliver content to users with the web content and web pages based on their geographical locations. By doing so they ensure that the user is able to access web content that is not only high in quality, but also high performance. There can be thousands of servers located across the globe in a large CDN.
Super Fast Delivery
CDNs work by making copies of websites to all the servers that are interconnected. When a visitor requests digital content from a certain website, the CDN locates the nearest server in the network. Communication is then sent to the original server, where the content is released to the CDN server that is located nearest to the user. By doing this, the user is able to get the information they were searching for within a short time.
Content is also delivered in pure form, with little or no distortion, as the number of hops needed to access the content is highly reduced. Should there be information that has not been cached, the CDN will communicate with the original server to ensure that the content is delivered.
It is important to note that this process is done in such a way that the user is able to get the information they need quickly, without going through the technical details. As a result the user rarely knows what is happening.
Because of the numerous copies of the web content that is made available to users across the world through the CDNs, it is possible to send similar information to different users efficiently and reliably. This is regardless of whether the demand is high or the bandwidths are limited. It is for this reason that they are most suitable when streaming videos, audio and Internet television. Webpage images are also highly optimized and delivered quickly, thanks to the ability of the CDNs to support progressive downloads.
Better User Experience
In conclusion, Content Delivery Networks greatly enhance the user experience on the internet. It is also a great backup plan for any website owner. This is because should there be a malfunction of the site resulting from an internet attack on the main server; the copies that are hosted in the CDN server will ensure that people are still able to access your website. CDNs are therefore a must for every organization that aims to gain from digital world.
From higher capacity, lower delivery costs, improved stream quality and higher availability, the benefits of a CDN cannot be overemphasized.