Origin Server
An origin server is the primary source of content in a web architecture, such as a web server or application server that hosts the original, authoritative version of data, files, or applications. It responds directly to requests from clients or intermediate systems like CDNs, handling tasks like processing dynamic content, database queries, and serving static assets. In distributed systems, it acts as the backend that stores and manages the core data and logic.
Developers should learn about origin servers when building scalable web applications, as they are essential for managing the source of truth in content delivery networks (CDNs) and load-balanced environments. They are crucial for ensuring data integrity, handling authentication, and processing complex business logic that cannot be offloaded to edge servers. Use cases include e-commerce platforms, media streaming services, and any application requiring reliable backend infrastructure with high availability.