What is a Content Delivery Network?Traditionally, web objects are hosted in a single location forcing visitors who reside at great distances to wait for packets to load while they move across the Internet. Greater distance equals slower communication and higher chances of losing data. Content delivery network (CDN) is an interconnected system of computers on the Internet that provides Web content rapidly by duplicating it on multiple servers and directing the content to users based on proximity. Users experience optimal website load speed, regardless of time, day, and location. There is no delay or time-out.How it WorksContent is delivered to the CDN servers in different parts of the Internet and then determines which server to send content to the user. Various special algorithms were developed to determine server response based on the task - to minimize network traffic (selecting the closest server), minimizing the cost (server selection, standing in a cheap hosting), minimizing the time (the selection of the most powerful servers). Optimization algorithms are complex and varied.CDN providers come in different sizes - some work for smaller clients and their regional audience, for example, only one small country, others are guided by the distribution of content to major global broadcasters and have their servers in almost all countries of the world.Three Types of Content Distribution for VideosCDN services most often are used when dealing with three types of content distribution:1. Downloading - downloading large files, such as software distribution. CDN in this case is used to secure access to the service and to promote a fast download from http or https. Additional requirements may be for example, the ability to resume if the connection is lost, or download huge chunks of files.2. Progressive Downloading - this happens when a file is not only swinging on the user's computer, but starts playing almost immediately after a little buffering. The user does not have to wait for the file to load to start watching, so this format is widely used for feeds. For example, companies post the video on their sites or large text that a site visitor can immediately begin viewing.3. Streaming - the file is not stored on the user's computer with the exception of a small buffer that compensates for the uneven IP- packets. CDN must provide uninterrupted delivery of packages to adjust to the speed of the channel to the client. If the video broadcast in not in real time, CDN allows users to quickly and seamlessly begin viewing (listening) from different points of the file.CDN and Online Shopping
The effectiveness of the use of content delivery networks for online shopping increases the speed of loading pages and increases the number of buyers.Aberdeen Group study found that a 1-second delay in page load decreases the conversion of 7%, the number of page views - by 11 %, and customer loyalty - 16%. The company Amazon.com, Inc. conducted similar studies in 2007 and found that with each additional delay of 100ms, a company's website was losing 1% of sales. It is obvious that the higher the speed of loading pages that feature products from the online store, the more satisfied the customer.The decision to speed up the online store involves caching static content (pictures of goods, services, advertising). Additional stores may be interested in sending traffic via HTTPS, especially in the later stages of the purchase when it is necessary to ensure secure transmission of data for the registered user.However, online stores are a complex service as there are pages that are not cached (for example, the payment page). To accelerate their usage, special solutions, such as Application Acceleration is needed, hence clients need to shop around for a hosting provider that includes ADN service within their CDN.CDN and Slow Website SpeedOnline audiences expect a fast website experience. 47% of consumers expect a webpage to load in 2 seconds or less; 40% of which abandon the site if it takes longer than 3 seconds. Many brush off CDN services thinking that their website does not need it, but beware - slow websites, no matter how beautiful they may be, discourage users from further browsing.What causes slow website response time?1. Online Content is Increasing in Size
Media files, applications, software are growing in quality and complexity. Delivering large files on the Internet puts great pressure on your website's organizational infrastructure. Inadequate server volume, storage space, and bandwidth causes your site's performance and user experience to suffer greatly.2. Large Website Libraries = Traffic Jams
As websites grow with the new addition of quality audio, video, and text files, more visitors are driven to view recent content resulting in traffic jams that noticeably slow down the network. If one website's heavy data blocks streets in the network's infrastructure, it has a domino effect on the rest of the network.3. Online Access Through Mobile Devices
Global users are now accessing online content from a variety of devices, even if you have adequate capacity, upload/download issues and internet congestion can result in page abandonment.
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