CDN
Definition
Content Delivery Network – a network of servers worldwide that delivers website content from locations close to each visitor, dramatically improving speed.
What is a CDN?
A CDN (Content Delivery Network) is a network of servers distributed globally that store copies of your website's static content (images, CSS, JavaScript). When someone visits your site, content is served from the server closest to them.
How CDNs Work
Without a CDN:
- User in Australia requests your site
- Request travels to your UK server
- Files travel back to Australia
- Slow loading due to distance
With a CDN:
- User in Australia requests your site
- Nearby Australian CDN server responds
- Much faster delivery
CDN Benefits
Speed
Content delivered from nearby servers loads faster. Less distance = faster speed.
Reduced Server Load
Your main server handles less traffic, improving performance for everyone.
Better Uptime
If one server fails, others take over. Distributed = resilient.
DDoS Protection
Many CDNs include protection against distributed denial-of-service attacks.
Global Reach
Deliver fast experiences to visitors anywhere in the world.
Popular CDN Providers
Cloudflare
Free tier available. Easy setup. Includes security features.
Bunny CDN
Affordable. Good performance. Simple pricing.
AWS CloudFront
Powerful but more complex. Integrates with AWS services.
Fastly
Premium performance. Used by major sites.
Do You Need a CDN?
Yes if:
- You have international visitors
- Site speed is important (always)
- You serve lots of media
Maybe not if:
- Purely local business with local visitors
- Very simple site with minimal assets
For most sites, a CDN like Cloudflare (free tier) is a no-brainer for the speed and security benefits.