What is the function of a CDN in web development?

The function of a Content Delivery Network (CDN) in web development is to store and deliver web content efficiently. A CDN consists of a network of geographically distributed servers that work together to provide high availability and reliability of content delivery. By caching content closer to users, such as images, videos, and web pages, a CDN reduces latency, which is the time it takes for data to travel from the server to the user's device. This leads to faster loading times and an improved user experience.

The efficiency gained from a CDN also allows websites to handle increased traffic during peak times without overloading the origin server. By offloading the content delivery, the CDN enables the main server to focus on dynamic requests and other critical tasks, thus optimizing overall web performance and scalability.

In contrast, managing user accounts typically requires a different system, often involving databases and authentication services rather than a CDN. Preventing data breaches and creating backups of websites also fall into distinct categories of security and infrastructure practices, which are not the primary functions of a CDN. Therefore, the correct choice highlights the key role of a CDN in enhancing the speed and reliability of web content delivery to enhance user satisfaction.