The Content Delivery Network (CDN) improves performance and availability by delivering content through a globally distributed network of proxy servers. When a user (usually through their mobile device) makes a request to your API through a CDN, they will create a network connection with one of many points of presence (PoPs), based on their geographic location. Instead of having to make roundtrips to the origin data center for every single request, content can be cached at the edge of a CDN, greatly reducing the response time for the user and reducing unnecessary, costly traffic to the origin.
CDNs are a requirement if you plan to have a global user base. If every request to your application's API has to perform a full roundtrip to a single origin, you'll create a subpar experience for users in parts of the world physically distant...
