Guides

Multi-CDN is a strategy that uses more than one CDN at the same time. Instead of relying on a single provider, traffic flows through multiple networks and is steered to whichever one works best at that moment. This approach improves reach, resilience, and sometimes cost efficiency. If you are unfamiliar with the basics of CDNs, see the Top 10 Questions About CDNs first. 1. What is a Multi-CDN and how does it differ from a single CDN? A single CDN depends on one provider’s network of points of presence. A Multi-CDN combines the reach of several providers, switching between them based on performance, location, or availability. The result is fewer single points of failure and a smoother experience for global audiences. ...

Content Delivery Networks, or CDNs, keep much of the modern web running smoothly. They are behind faster page loads, fewer outages, and safer browsing experiences. If you have wondered how they work or whether you should use one, here are the ten questions people ask most — with answers in plain language. For more advanced strategies that combine multiple providers, see the Top 10 Questions About Multi-CDN. 1. What is a CDN and how does it work? A CDN is a network of servers in many locations. It stores copies of website content on those servers so they can be delivered from a place closer to the visitor. Instead of every request going back to the main origin server, a CDN routes the visitor to the nearest edge server. The shorter the journey, the faster the response. ...

Caching is one of the simplest ways to improve delivery. A cache saves a copy of a response so it can be served without a round trip to the origin. The core control surface is the Cache-Control header and the time-to-live (TTL). This guide explains how freshness and validation work, which directives do what, and how to choose sane defaults that fit real sites and APIs. Freshness vs validation A cache serves a response when it is fresh. Freshness comes from an explicit lifetime such as max-age or from an older Expires date. After freshness ends, a cache either revalidates or fetches again. ...