Use CloudFront for Dynamic content

Let me explain how CloudFront handles dynamic content:

1. Dynamic Content Caching:

   • By default, CloudFront forwards ALL requests for dynamic content to the origin

   • Cache behavior can be configured based on HTTP headers, cookies, query strings

   • TTL (Time To Live) can be set to 0 for truly dynamic content

2. Performance Optimizations for Dynamic Content:

   • Persistent Connections: CloudFront maintains a pool of persistent connections to the origin

   • SSL/TLS Connection Reuse: Reduces handshake overhead

   • Gzip Compression: Can compress responses automatically

   • TCP Connection Management: CloudFront optimizes TCP connections from edge to origin

3. Key Features for Dynamic Content:

   • Origin Shield: Acts as an additional caching layer to reduce load on origin

   • Cache-Control Headers: Origin can control caching behavior

   • Real-time Logs: Monitor and analyze dynamic content delivery

   • Origin Failover: Automatic failover to backup origins if primary fails

4. Configuration Options:

   {
     "CacheBehavior": {
       "MinTTL": 0,
       "DefaultTTL": 0,
       "MaxTTL": 0,
       "ForwardedValues": {
         "Headers": ["*"],
         "Cookies": {
           "Forward": "all"
         },
         "QueryString": true
       }
     }
   }

5. Benefits for Dynamic Content:

   • Reduced Latency: Edge locations terminate client connections closer to users

   • Better Security: DDoS protection and AWS Shield integration

   • Lower Origin Load: Connection pooling and optimization

   • Global Network: Leverages AWS's global backbone network

6. Best Practices:

   • Use Cache Policies to specify which request components affect caching

   • Enable Origin Shield in the Region closest to your origin

   • Configure appropriate timeout settings

   • Monitor cache hit/miss ratios

   • Use appropriate price class based on your global needs

Even when content can't be cached, CloudFront still provides significant performance benefits through its network optimizations and connection handling.