How does Content Delivery Network works (from web dev point of view)?

Question

I find it simple. Have a CDN edge server near the user, cache the request and when next time he asks for it, give it. But I am pretty sure what I am thinking, although correct, isn't complete and there is something missing. My book has just included some small benefits of CDN, that's all. But that too isn't given in detail with illustrations(although it is not necessary i feel). Exam questions of mine has asked like how CDN reduces delay in received requested object for 8 marks(3hrs exam, 80 full marks). The answer to this is literally 1 line ie the definition of CDN. and maybe 2 figures showing how it works with and without CDN. another question asked in the exam is-: how proxy CDN works, explain with example. I am not sure how the updating of content happens. Does only 1 proxy server gets updated or do all proxy servers get updated when 1 CDN brings a fresh copy of the web page from the origin server? It is confusing; believe me, the tutorials for this thing are advertisements for various CDNs.

vikas_jk · Accepted Answer

Take a look at this:

To minimize the distance between the visitors and your website’s server, a CDN stores a cached version of its content in multiple geographical locations (a.k.a., points of presence, or PoPs). Each PoP contains a number of caching servers responsible for content delivery to visitors within its proximity.

In essence, CDN puts your content in many places at once, providing superior coverage to your users. For example, when someone in London accesses your US-hosted website, it is done through a local UK PoP. This is much quicker than having the visitor’s requests, and your responses, travel the full width of the Atlantic and back.

This is how a CDN works in a nutshell.

From: https://www.imperva.com/learn/performance/what-is-cdn-how-it-works/

Does only 1 proxy server gets updated or do all proxy servers get updated when 1 CDN brings a fresh copy of the web page from the origin server?

-> All copies are updated.

You can also know there are some benefits of CDN which you can write in exam, like

CDN Improves page load speed
Handle high traffic loads
Block spammers, scrapers and other bad bots
Localize coverage without the cost
Reduce bandwidth consumption
Load balance between multiple servers
Protect your website from DDoS attacks
Secure your application

Also read: https://superuser.com/questions/1291848/is-a-reverse-proxy-works-the-same-as-like-a-cdn

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/7651458/how-to-get-started-with-web-caching-cdns-and-proxy-servers

https://www.ezoic.com/cdn-and-caching-difference/

Thanks.

How does Content Delivery Network works (from web dev point of view)?

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