Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) are widely used to accelerate loading webpage content. A CDN typically places servers at internet exchange points (IXPs) and data centers in high traffic areas and strategic locations across the globe, much like Amazon purposefully places its warehouses. The main benefit of using a CDN is its ability to deliver content quickly and efficiently, with performance optimizations that can be broken down into three categories: distance reduction, hardware/software optimizations, and reduced data transfer.
Every time a person accesses a website, a data request is sent. Without a CDN, a client/server data transfer would involve each request traveling through a series of routers along its distant travel from point A to point B. The amount of time (latency) is increased by the total distance and the time it takes each router to process the request. Similar to layovers on a long journey by plane, this can result in long loading times, especially as websites become larger and require a greater number of assets. By using a CDN which stores a website’s data in a cache geographically closest to the Internet user, the total transit time can be significantly reduced, resulting in a better user experience and higher user time on page.
One of two forms of hardware are available for a CDN – solid-state hard drives (SSD) and traditional hard disk drives (HDD). SSDs perform more efficiently utilizing technology resembling a USB, and can open files up to 30% faster than traditional HDDs. While HDDs function more like a record player reading data and therefore experience more glitches, they are significantly cheaper than their more modern alternatives. The form of hardware a CDN employs impacts both its efficiency and performance, as well as its cost.
The other major factor in a CDN’s efficiency is the reduction of data transferred, which directly impacts its speed. The two primary methods for reducing the file size of the transferred data are minification and compression. Minification involves eliminating unnecessary components of the code, while compression requires rewriting the code to simplify the bits required to transmit the file down to 50-70% of the initial file size. The smaller the file size, the smaller the amount of data to be transferred, resulting in quicker page loading times.
Looking to learn more? We suggest heading over to Cloudflare’s Learning Center for an in-depth look at the benefits of a CDN.
Share this:
