Content Delivery Network
A CDN distributes web content across locations. Public files can be cached there; personalised portal responses need their own cache rules.
What is a Content Delivery Network?
A Content Delivery Network (CDN) serves web content through distributed servers. MDN explains keeping copies at multiple locations. On a suitable cache hit, a stored copy can answer the request. A missing copy must first be obtained from the origin server. The effect therefore depends on content, configuration and actual requests.
Example: distributing a public manual
In the fictional example, the freely accessible manual handbuch-v1.pdf is delivered through a CDN. For the new edition, the team publishes handbuch-v2.pdf and updates the website links. It checks which edition arrives through each address. Replacing a file at an unchanged address would also require an appropriate update or removal of cached copies.
In this design, personalised project reports from the portal must stay out of the shared CDN cache. MDN distinguishes private from shared caches and warns about sharing personalised content. The team must align response headers with the CDN rules actually in effect; a login alone is insufficient evidence.
A CDN replaces neither the application’s access checks nor a backup and recovery plan. Whether it improves delivery should be measured for the required files and user locations.
Sources
Related terms
- Edge computingEdge computing processes data closer to its source or use. Which work runs locally and how it interacts with central services still need to be planned.
- Entity tagAn ETag identifies a particular representation version of an HTTP resource and supports conditional reads or changes.
- Return-PathReturn-Path records the SMTP reverse path in a header. It explains the technical route for error reports, not a person’s identity.
- Envelope-FromEnvelope-From identifies the SMTP sender for transport and error feedback. It must be distinguished from the visible sender address.
- DMARC aggregate reportA DMARC aggregate report summarises a reporting mail system’s domain checks over a period. It helps examine sending sources and misconfigurations.
- DMARC policyA DMARC policy describes the requested handling of failed domain checks. It repairs neither sending sources nor their alignment.
Articles on this topic
Cloud & Operations with ASES
Hosting, deployment, maintenance and support