WebDistribution

Web distribution refers to the set of strategies and technologies used to deliver web content and services efficiently across a network. It is centered on placing copies of content on geographically distributed servers so that user requests can be served from a location near the user. The origin server holds the original content, while edge servers and caches operate under a distribution platform such as a content delivery network (CDN) or similar infrastructure.

Key components include edge caching, request routing, and caching policies. Requests are directed to the most appropriate edge server through DNS-based routing or anycast, reducing latency. Content is cached at the edge and validated using HTTP headers such as Cache-Control, ETag, and Last-Modified. Cache directives determine how long assets are stored and how updates propagate. Dynamic content can be accelerated through edge computing and on-edge personalization, where lightweight processing occurs closer to the user.

Benefits of web distribution include lower latency, higher throughput, improved scalability during traffic surges, and greater resilience to regional outages. Common use cases encompass static asset delivery (images, scripts, stylesheets), software and media distribution, streaming, and API acceleration. Challenges involve cache coherency and invalidation, keeping content synchronized with the origin, privacy and security considerations at the edge, and potential vendor lock-in.

Web distribution has evolved with modern protocols like HTTP/2 and HTTP/3, TLS termination at the edge, and the development of edge functions and automated asset management workflows to support versioning, purging, and deployment.