CDN (Content Delivery Network)

CDNs cache content at edge locations worldwide, reducing latency and server load. How it works: user requests content, CDN serves from nearest edge server if cached, otherwise fetches from origin and caches. Benefits: faster load times (reduced latency), reduced bandwidth costs, DDoS protection, and improved availability. Content types: static files (images, CSS, JS), video streaming, and increasingly dynamic content. Major providers: Cloudflare, Fastly, AWS CloudFront, Akamai. Configuration involves: cache headers (TTL), purging strategies, and origin settings. CDNs are essential for global web applications and significantly improve user experience.