The Life of a Single API Request
Follow one request from your keyboard to millions of transistors...
You press Enter.
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Chapter 1 • The Click
Your keyboard generates an interrupt...
Chapter 2 • Finding the Server (DNS)
How does api.example.com become an IP address?
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Chapter 3 • Can We Even Talk? (TCP)
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Chapter 4 • Trust Nobody (TLS)
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Chapter 5 • The Request Leaves Your Device
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Chapter 6 • The Edge (CDN)
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Chapter 7 • Traffic Control (Load Balancer)
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Chapter 8 • The Front Door (Reverse Proxy)
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Chapter 9 • Who Are You?
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Chapter 10 • Can We Avoid the Database?
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Chapter 11 • Talking to the Database
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Chapter 12 • Business Logic
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Chapter 13 • The Journey Home
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Chapter 14 • The Browser Goes Back to Work
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Chapter 15 • JavaScript Changes Everything
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Chapter 16 • The GPU Takes Over
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Chapter 17 • Interactive
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Final Timeline
Enter Key
↓
DNS
↓
TCP
↓
TLS
↓
Internet
↓
CDN
↓
Load Balancer
↓
Reverse Proxy
↓
Authentication
↓
Cache
↓
Database
↓
Business Logic
↓
Compression
↓
Browser
↓
DOM
↓
CSSOM
↓
Layout
↓
Paint
↓
GPU
↓
First Pixel
↓
Interactive
Closing Thoughts
A single click feels instantaneous because...
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