What is the primary function of a load balancer?

The primary function of a load balancer is to distribute network traffic across multiple servers. This ensures that no single server becomes overwhelmed with requests, which helps maintain optimal performance and availability. By balancing the load, it allows applications to handle more users simultaneously and improves redundancy. If one server fails, the load balancer can redirect traffic to the remaining operational servers, enhancing the overall reliability of the application.

Effectively, load balancing contributes to a more efficient use of resources, minimizes response time for users, and increases the reliability of the services being delivered. This is particularly crucial in environments where a high volume of requests is expected, and maintaining uptime is vital for business operations.