What is a primary function of a content delivery network (CDN)?

A primary function of a content delivery network (CDN) is to deliver web content efficiently based on user location. CDNs achieve this by distributing content across multiple geographically dispersed servers. When a user requests content from a website, the CDN directs the request to the server that is closest to the user. This reduces latency and load times, as the physical distance between the user and the server is minimized, allowing for a quicker transfer of data.

By optimizing the route that content takes from the server to the user, CDNs enhance user experience and ensure that web applications perform smoothly, especially under high traffic conditions. Additionally, CDNs can handle sudden spikes in traffic by distributing the load, further improving the reliability and speed of content delivery.

Other options, while they may touch on aspects related to CDNs, do not encapsulate the primary function as effectively. Increasing bandwidth usage does not directly relate to the primary purpose of a CDN, and while security enhancements can be a feature of some CDNs, it is not their primary function. Storing website data redundantly also does not accurately represent what CDNs do since the focus of a CDN is on efficient and rapid content delivery, not just on data storage.