If you are new to web development, you might have heard the term "CDN" thrown around. It stands for Content Delivery Network, and it is one of the easiest ways to make your website faster.
But with so many options out there, which one should you choose? If you are working on an open source project, a personal portfolio, or a WordPress site, StaticDelivr is built specifically for you.
This guide explains what StaticDelivr is, why it matters, and how to start using it in under 60 seconds.
What is StaticDelivr?
StaticDelivr is a free, public CDN that serves files from npm and GitHub.
Imagine you want to use a popular JavaScript library like React or a CSS framework like Bootstrap. You could download the files and host them on your own server. But that means your server has to do all the work, and users far away from you will have a slow experience.
Instead, you can use a StaticDelivr URL. When you do this:
We grab the file from npm or GitHub.
We store copies of it on hundreds of servers around the world (from New York to Tokyo).
When a user visits your site, they download the file from the server closest to them, making it load almost instantly.
Why should I use it?
1. It's Free for Open Source
StaticDelivr is designed to support the developer community. You don't need to pay or even create an account to use our public CDN links.
2. It's Fast and Reliable
We don't rely on just one network. We combine the power of multiple enterprise providers (like Cloudflare and Fastly) to ensure your files are always available and load fast, no matter where your users are.
3. It's Incredibly Simple
There is no complex configuration. If you know the name of the package you want, you can guess the URL.
How to use it (The "60-Second" Tutorial)
Here are the three most common ways to use StaticDelivr. You can copy-paste these patterns right now.
1. Load an npm package
This is the most popular use case. The pattern is:
https://cdn.staticdelivr.com/npm/package@version/file
Example (React):
<script src="https://cdn.staticdelivr.com/npm/react@18.2.0/umd/react.production.min.js"></script>Example (Bootstrap CSS):
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.staticdelivr.com/npm/bootstrap@5.3.0/dist/css/bootstrap.min.css">2. Load a file from GitHub
Want to serve a file directly from a GitHub repository?
https://cdn.staticdelivr.com/gh/user/repo/version/file
Example (jQuery from GitHub):
<script src="https://cdn.staticdelivr.com/gh/jquery/jquery/3.7.1/dist/jquery.min.js"></script>3. Speed up WordPress
If you have a WordPress site, you don't even need to touch code. We have a free plugin that does the work for you.
Install the StaticDelivr CDN plugin.
Activate it.
That's it! It automatically starts serving your themes and plugins from our global network.
Summary
StaticDelivr is the "set it and forget it" way to speed up your website. whether you are pasting a script tag or installing a WordPress plugin, you are tapping into a global infrastructure that usually costs thousands of dollars for free.
Ready to try it? Search for your favorite package on npm and create your first StaticDelivr link today!