Load Balancing

Load balancing refers to the technique of allocating network and application traffic across several servers to avoid overloading any one server. It functions as a traffic management system, positioned between clients and a server cluster, effectively directing requests to the most appropriate server. This approach enhances an application's availability, scalability, and overall performance by mitigating bottlenecks.

Load balancers are categorized based on the network layer at which they function. Layer 4 balancers utilize network information such as IP addresses to manage traffic. In contrast, Layer 7 balancers are more sophisticated, analyzing application data like HTTP headers for more intelligent routing.

They can be implemented as physical hardware devices or adaptable software solutions, particularly prevalent in cloud environments. For applications with a global reach, DNS or global server load balancing directs users to the nearest server geographically, which helps reduce latency and boost performance.

Adopting load balancing offers numerous benefits that are essential for contemporary applications. By effectively distributing traffic, it improves the overall user experience and fortifies the underlying infrastructure. The key advantages focus on reliability, performance, and security.

Although load balancing and load sharing are frequently used interchangeably, they serve different purposes and applications.