Content Delivery Network (CDN), plays a crucial role in delivering data efficiently across long distances.
The Challenge of Distance and the Need for CDNs :)
Imagine I am in India, and I want to access a YouTube video or Netflix documentary that is hosted on a server located in the United States. Due to the physical distance, it would take a significant amount of time for the data to travel from the US server to my location in India.
Enhancing Speed and Efficiency with CDNs :)
To address this issue and improve the delivery speed, CDNs come into play. CDNs have servers distributed in different locations worldwide, including India. When I request data, instead of going all the way to the original server, the CDN serving my region steps in.
check this diagram for more clear understanding :)
How CDNs Store and Deliver Data :)
Now, let's dive into how CDNs acquire and store data.
When the CDN doesn't have the requested content, it acts as an intermediary between the user and the original server. It fetches the data from the server and creates a copy of it within its network.
Leveraging Caching and Local Delivery :)
To ensure efficient content delivery, CDNs employ Points of Presence (POPs) strategically placed in various locations. These POPs contain servers that store cached copies of frequently accessed content. By having multiple POPs, CDNs can bring the data closer to users, reducing latency and improving the overall performance of content delivery.
Understanding Points of Presence (POPs)
I know you might be confused with POPs so let's discuss this
POPs represent the physical locations where CDN servers are deployed. They form the backbone of the CDN infrastructure, POPs improve data availability, decrease the distance data must travel, and enhance the user experience.