# One URL to Transform & Deliver Files — a Global Edge Network Your images, videos, and files delivered fast to every user, anywhere on the planet. [Get Started](/c/signup/) [Get Started](/c/signup/) [Documentation](/docs/faq/use-tlcdn.md) No credit card needed · Cancel anytime No preprocessing required Skip the upfront work and transform files only when your users actually need them, saving time and resources. Blazing fast Process and deliver files at lightning speed with optimized infrastructure designed for high-performance transformations. Dynamic transforms worldwide Transform images, videos, and documents on demand through URL parameters, cached worldwide for fast repeat delivery. Transform your files ## Transform files on demand via URL parameters Add parameters to your file URLs to apply and layer multiple effects. my-app.tlcdn.com/resize-img/canoe.jpg?w=325 ![A car with a canoe on top parked next to the road in a mesa environment](https://my-app.tlcdn.com/resize-img/canoe.jpg?w=325) Adjust image width (currently 325 px) Transformed & fetched in 1 ms [Get Started](/c/signup/) [Get Started](/c/signup/) Use cases ## What our Smart CDN can transform for you on the fly Here are a few examples that show how you can take advantage of our Smart CDN ![Create thumbnails for any file type](/contentdelivery/generate-light.webp?dpl=dpl_HUTWNYBeVdMaGAUfaktUsYxLZLPR) ## Create thumbnails for any file type Generate meaningful previews for virtually any file type. Smart processing for images, videos, documents, and archives without downloading entire files. ![AI enhanced image processing](/contentdelivery/aienhanced-light.webp?dpl=dpl_HUTWNYBeVdMaGAUfaktUsYxLZLPR) ## AI enhanced image processing Use AI to intelligently crop images around faces or important subjects. ![Signed media delivery with a visible watermark](/contentdelivery/drm-light.webp?dpl=dpl_HUTWNYBeVdMaGAUfaktUsYxLZLPR) ## Signed delivery and watermarks Require expiring URL signatures and add visible watermarks as part of a controlled delivery workflow. ![Responsive Images for any device](/contentdelivery/res-light.webp?dpl=dpl_HUTWNYBeVdMaGAUfaktUsYxLZLPR) ## Responsive Images for any device Dynamically resize images based on device type, screen size, or user preferences. Optimal files for every device. Architecture and fit ## What makes a file CDN “smart” — transforming on demand at cache-miss time — and when should you use one? A conventional CDN caches files that already exist. Transloadit Smart CDN can import an original from your storage, run a saved transformation Template on a cache miss, and deliver the result through the same URL. Subsequent requests reuse the cached derivative until its cache lifetime ends. ### Choose Smart CDN when Your application owns the originals, derivative demand is hard to predict, and a Template that accepts a constrained set of URL variables can create the exact image, video, document, or preview that a user requests. ### Preprocess instead when Every output is known before publication, a human must approve it, or one workflow must export several persistently stored output files. In those cases, run an asynchronous Assembly first and serve the saved Assembly outputs. ### Use a conventional CDN when You only need to cache and deliver immutable files that are already prepared. A transformation layer adds little value when the origin contains every required variant. ### The request path 1. A tlcdn.com URL identifies your workspace, Template, and source file path. 2. Query parameters are exposed as fields that the saved Template reads through Assembly Variables. 3. On a cache miss, the Template’s Assembly runs — importing the original and transforming it — and its /file/serve Robot serves the result over HTTP. 4. The /tlcdn/deliver layer — engaged implicitly by the tlcdn.com domain — then caches and distributes that response across global edge locations. ### Design and evaluate with production-shaped requests * Measure cold misses separately from warm cache hits. * Limit dimensions, formats, and other variables to cap how many distinct cached variants you generate (cache cardinality). * Treat signed URL expiry as both an access and cache-lifetime decision. * Test source replacement, invalid parameters, and unavailable origins. Beyond a single derivative ### Serve one result while richer processing continues A Smart CDN Template is still an Assembly workflow. On a cache miss, /file/serve selects the output returned by the URL. As soon as that output is ready, independent Smart-CDN-compatible branches can continue working without holding up the response. 1 #### Return and cache the requested file The response path ends at /file/serve. That selected image, document, audio file, or video output can start streaming to the requester and enter the edge cache as soon as it is available. Import→Transform→/file/serve→Edge cache 2 #### Keep useful work running behind the response Other compatible branches in the same Template can power richer experiences or prepare secondary assets. For example: * generate HLS playlists and segments on demand with the /video/ondemand Robot * transcribe speech, describe images, or translate text * create document previews or store secondary outputs for later use This additional work runs only on cache misses and every Step must use a Smart-CDN-compatible Robot. Warm cache hits are delivered from the edge without running the Template again. Smart CDN is a transformation and delivery layer. It does not replace object storage, a digital asset management (DAM) system, a video player, live-streaming infrastructure, or an application’s authorization policy. [Read an implementation guide for responsive images](/guides/serve-responsive-images-from-one-url.md) or [review Smart CDN authentication](/docs/api/authentication.md#smart-cdn). Our Smart CDN runs on a globally distributed edge network so transformed files stay close to your users. Transloadit ## Why Transloadit Smart CDN? Transloadit's Smart CDN reuses cached transformed files across global edge locations for fast warm delivery without repeating the transformation. Cached global delivery Warm responses are served from the delivery network instead of running the transformation again. Increased reliability Distributed CDN architecture minimizes downtime risk and network congestion for consistent worldwide content delivery. Bounded access Require signed URLs and constrain the variables accepted by each saved Template. Enhanced scalability CDN infrastructure handles high traffic volumes without compromising performance or user experience. Reduced repeat work Cache hits avoid repeated origin imports and transformations, reducing repeat processing and origin transfer. On-demand processing Transform media files only when requested, eliminating preprocessing needs and saving storage resources. [Try Transloadit for free](/c/signup/) [Try Transloadit for free](/c/signup/) Related resources ## Explore this topic Move from the service overview to practical guides, working demos, Robot documentation, and proven customer outcomes. ### Guides * [How to serve responsive images from one URL→](/guides/serve-responsive-images-from-one-url.md) * [Eight image SEO optimization practices→](/guides/image-seo-optimization.md) * [HTML video in production: 10 practical checks→](/guides/html-video-production-checklist.md) * [Media automation: from upload to reliable output→](/guides/media-automation.md) ### Robot docs * [🤖/file/serve→](/docs/robots/file-serve.md) * [🤖/tlcdn/deliver→](/docs/robots/tlcdn-deliver.md) ### Solutions * [E-commerce & retail→](/solutions/ecommerce.md) * [Media & Entertainment→](/solutions/media.md) * [Software development & SaaS→](/solutions/software.md) ### Pricing and customer story * [Pricing→](/pricing.md) * [How WeTransfer elevated file previews with Transloadit's Smart CDN→](/casestudies/2024/05/wetransfer.md) ### Live demos * [View demo→Convert an image to WebP](/demos/image-processing/convert-to-webp.md) * [View demo→Change the quality of a JPEG](/demos/image-processing/change-the-quality-of-a-jpg.md) * [View demo→Crop an image based on cropping coordinates](/demos/image-processing/cropping-with-coordinates.md) Try Transloadit ## Give Transloadit's Smart CDN a try for free. Transloadit's Smart CDN is a global content delivery network that delivers your content to your users from the closest location to them. Slow content delivery worldwide Global edge network High bandwidth costs Bandwidth cost optimization Limited global reach Worldwide content acceleration Poor user experience internationally Enhanced user experience Server overload during traffic spikes Automatic traffic distribution Unreliable content availability Global edge delivery GDPR GDPR HIPAA HIPAA ISO 27001ISO27001 ISO 27001 AES-256 AES-256 SOC 2 Type II SOC 2 Type II [Try Transloadit for Free](/c/signup/) [Try Transloadit for Free](/c/signup/) No credit card needed · Cancel anytime