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CDNs rely on a process called “caching” that temporarily stores copies of files in data centers across the globe, allowing you to access internet content from a server near you. Content delivered from a server closest to you reduces page load times and results in a faster, high-performance web experience. By caching content like web pages, images, and video in servers near your physical location, CDNs allow you to do things like watch a movie, download software, check your bank balance, post on social media, or make purchases without having to wait for content to load.
You could think of a CDN like an ATM. If your money were only available from one bank in town, you’d have to make a time-consuming trip and stand in a long line every time you wanted to withdraw cash. However, with a cash machine on practically every corner, you have fast and easy access to your money any time you need it.
As content providers began delivering more rich web content such as graphics and video over the internet, CDN services were created to solve the problem of network congestion that resembled a traffic jam. Getting content from centrally located servers to individual users simply took too long. CDNs have now grown to include everything from text, graphics, scripts, and media files to software downloads, documents, portals, ecommerce, live streaming media, on-demand video streaming media, and social media sites.
For more than 20 years, CDNs have formed the unseen backbone of the internet — improving website performance and delivering online content for businesses quickly and at scale. Today, a large portion of all internet content is delivered through CDNs.
