What is a CDN (Content Delivery Network)? – KeyCDN

Content delivery network

A content delivery network, commonly referred to as CDN, is a network of edge servers strategically placed across the globe with the purpose of delivering digital content to users as fast as possible. When a user makes a request it is routed to the nearest CDN edge server, which significantly reduces the latency. A CDN allows all users, no matter the geographical location, to have fast loading content for an unquestionably improved experience.

According to BuiltWith, 63% of the top 10,000 websites are using a CDN (February 2023). This percentage has continually increased over the last 10 years due to the large growth of digital content consumption and high user expectations. Utilizing a CDN is one of the most effective ways to deliver content with high performance and reliability on a global scale.

In fact, a study done by the University of Nebraska found that the tolerable waiting time for information is approximately only 2 seconds.

CDNs can significantly improve website performance, user experience, and global reach while reducing costs and improving security. For websites and web applications that require fast and reliable content delivery, CDNs are an essential tool.