This document provides an overview of content delivery networks (CDNs) and Akamai, the largest CDN provider. It discusses how CDNs work to distribute content across multiple servers located closer to end users to improve performance. It then describes Akamai's approach, which uses a proprietary system of algorithms and technologies to route users to optimal servers and replace website URLs with Akamai URLs to distribute embedded objects from Akamai servers. The document also outlines Akamai's global network and large market share in content delivery.