CloudFront

Amazon CloudFront is a web service that speeds up distribution of your static and dynamic web content, such as .html, .css, .js, and image files, to your users.

CloudFront delivers your content through a worldwide network of data centers called edge locations.

When a user requests content that you're serving with CloudFront, the request is routed to the edge location that provides the lowest latency (time delay), so that content is delivered with the best possible performance.

AWS CloudFront

CDN

A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a system of distributed servers that deliver web content to users based on their geographic location. It reduces latency and speeds up load times by caching content closer to users. CDNs improve website performance and reliability, and help handle high traffic volumes efficiently.

How AWS CloudFront Works

Amazon CloudFront is a service provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS) that is used to deliver your content across the networks of servers located across the world these servers are called edge locations. The content can be any of the following.

• Images

• Videos

• Static and dynamic data.

The content that is delivered to the edge location will be stored in the origin servers and from the edge locations end users can access the content without latency.

CDN Flow

Features of CloudFront

1. Caching

2. Content Invalidation

3. HTTPS Support

4. Geo-Restriction

5. Access Control

6. Dynamic Content Delivery

Use-Case Scenarios

• Website and Static Content Delivery: Delivering static content like images, videos, JavaScript, and CSS files for websites and web applications.

• Streaming Media: Stream high-quality audio and video content with low latency and reduced buffering.

• Software Downloads: Provide fast and reliable software downloads for global users.

• API Acceleration: Enhance API performance by caching API responses at the edge locations.

Cost Considerations with CloudFront

CloudFront offers a pay-as-you-go pricing model based on usage. Here’s a breakdown of the primary cost factors:

• Request Pricing: You are charged per HTTP request served through CloudFront. This includes successful requests, misses, and errors.

• Data Transfer Out: Costs are incurred for data transferred from CloudFront edge locations to users. However, there are no charges for data transferred out from AWS origins to CloudFront.

• Price Class: CloudFront offers different price classes depending on your expected traffic volume and required features. Choose the most cost-effective option that aligns with your usage patterns.