Elastic Load Balancing
A service that automatically distributes incoming application traffic across multiple targets, such as Amazon EC2 instances.
Description
Elastic Load Balancing (ELB) is a core component of Amazon Web Services (AWS) that helps ensure high availability and fault tolerance for applications. By automatically distributing incoming traffic across multiple resources, ELB enhances the scalability and reliability of applications running on AWS. ELB supports various load balancer types, including Application Load Balancer (ALB), Network Load Balancer (NLB), and Classic Load Balancer. Each type serves different use cases, such as web applications or TCP traffic. ELB continuously monitors the health of registered targets and routes traffic only to healthy instances, thus improving overall application performance. Organizations can easily scale their applications up or down based on demand, as ELB integrates seamlessly with AWS Auto Scaling. This service is particularly beneficial for dynamic applications that experience variable levels of traffic and is critical for maintaining a seamless user experience during traffic spikes.
Examples
- A retail e-commerce website uses an Application Load Balancer to manage peak traffic during holiday sales, ensuring that users experience minimal downtime.
- A gaming application employs a Network Load Balancer to handle millions of simultaneous connections with minimal latency, providing a smooth gaming experience.
Additional Information
- ELB integrates with AWS Certificate Manager, allowing users to manage SSL certificates for secure connections effortlessly.
- Elastic Load Balancing supports IPv6, enabling organizations to modernize their applications for a broader audience.