What is the main purpose of load balancing in a network?

The main purpose of load balancing in a network is to distribute network traffic across multiple servers. This technique helps ensure that no single server becomes overwhelmed with too much traffic, which can lead to slow performance or even server failures. By evenly distributing the workload, load balancing improves the overall responsiveness and availability of services, as it allows multiple servers to handle client requests simultaneously and efficiently.

Load balancing is especially important in environments where high availability and reliability are crucial, such as cloud services, web applications, and online platforms. It not only enhances the user experience by reducing latency but also enables system maintenance without downtime, as traffic can be rerouted to other operational servers while one is being serviced. This ensures continuity and optimal performance, making it a fundamental aspect of modern network infrastructure.