What is a primary benefit of using a Content Delivery Network (CDN)?

What is a primary benefit of using a Content Delivery Network (CDN)?

• A. Increasing data center energy usage
• B. Reducing latency by caching content closer to users
• C. Eliminating the need for DNS
• D. Replacing the need for internet connectivity

Answer: (B)

Reducing latency by caching content closer to users is the primary benefit. A CDN places copies of popular content on edge servers distributed around the world. When a user requests a resource, the CDN serves it from the nearest edge location instead of the origin server, cutting the data’s travel distance and the round-trip time. The result is faster page loads, better responsiveness, and the ability to handle traffic surges by spreading the load across many edge servers. Other choices don’t fit. Increasing data center energy usage isn’t the goal of a CDN—delivery is aimed at efficiency and speed. DNS isn’t eliminated—CDNs rely on DNS-based routing to direct requests to the closest edge. And a CDN doesn’t replace the need for internet connectivity; you still need a connection to reach the edge server.

Reducing latency by caching content closer to users is the primary benefit. A CDN places copies of popular content on edge servers distributed around the world. When a user requests a resource, the CDN serves it from the nearest edge location instead of the origin server, cutting the data’s travel distance and the round-trip time. The result is faster page loads, better responsiveness, and the ability to handle traffic surges by spreading the load across many edge servers.

Other choices don’t fit. Increasing data center energy usage isn’t the goal of a CDN—delivery is aimed at efficiency and speed. DNS isn’t eliminated—CDNs rely on DNS-based routing to direct requests to the closest edge. And a CDN doesn’t replace the need for internet connectivity; you still need a connection to reach the edge server.