Global Server Load Balancing
Global Server Load Balancing (GSLB) is a network technology that distributes user traffic across multiple geographically dispersed data centers or server clusters to optimize performance, availability, and reliability. It works by intelligently routing requests based on factors like server health, geographic proximity, and network conditions, ensuring users connect to the best available endpoint. This is commonly implemented through DNS-based routing or specialized hardware/software solutions to manage global application delivery.
Developers should learn and use GSLB when building or maintaining applications that require high availability, low latency, and disaster recovery across multiple regions, such as e-commerce platforms, streaming services, or global SaaS products. It is essential for handling traffic spikes, reducing downtime by rerouting users during outages, and improving user experience by directing traffic to the nearest data center, which is critical for compliance with data sovereignty laws and performance SLAs.