What is a CDN (Content Delivery Network)?

A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a global network of servers that stores copies of files such as images in locations geographically closer to users requesting that content. CDNs reduce the load on origin servers, improve website security by mitigating DDoS attacks and enabling additional security proxies, and enhance user experience through faster website load times. Some benefits of using a CDN include decreased webpage and application load time, protection against DDoS and other attacks, improved scalability, reduced bandwidth and hosting costs, and minimized website downtime. CDNs work by having edge servers in multiple locations around the world that host cached files to improve performance and protect the origin server from attacks. CDNs can also cache content through server-side caching or client-side caching. To choose a CDN, consider factors such as use case, PoP network, available features, user experience, price, support and documentation, and compatibility with existing systems.