Web Server vs Content Delivery Network

Developers should learn and use web servers to deploy and host web applications, ensuring reliable and scalable delivery of content to users meets developers should use a cdn when building websites or applications that serve global audiences, require high performance, or handle large media files. Here's our take.

Web Server

Nice Pick

Developers should learn and use web servers to deploy and host web applications, ensuring reliable and scalable delivery of content to users

Pros

• It is essential for building production-ready websites, APIs, and services, as it handles critical tasks like load balancing, SSL/TLS encryption, and caching
• Related to: http-protocol, nginx

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Content Delivery Network

Developers should use a CDN when building websites or applications that serve global audiences, require high performance, or handle large media files

Pros

• It's essential for e-commerce sites, streaming services, and any application where speed and uptime are critical, as it reduces server load and improves user experience
• Related to: web-performance, caching

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Web Server is a tool while Content Delivery Network is a platform. We picked Web Server based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Web Server wins

Based on overall popularity. Web Server is more widely used, but Content Delivery Network excels in its own space.