Glossary: What is Anycast?

What is Anycast?

Anycast is a network addressing method where multiple servers share the same IP address, routing users to the closest server geographically or in terms of latency. It enhances speed, reliability, and resilience in data delivery.

Explanation

In an anycast setup, data requests from users are directed to the optimal server based on factors like proximity or network health. This reduces latency and distributes traffic efficiently, making it ideal for applications like content delivery networks (CDNs) and global DNS services.

Practical Example of Anycast

Imagine a user in Europe accessing a website hosted on an anycast network. Their request is automatically routed to a nearby server in Europe instead of a distant server in Asia, ensuring faster load times and improved performance.