Content delivery - Definition and Overview

Content delivery describes the delivery of digital media "content" such as digital audio or digital video over a delivery medium such as broadcasting or the Internet.

Content delivery has two parts:

• delivery of finished content for distribution, with its accompanying metadata
• delivery of the end product to the consumer

Specialist networks known as "Content delivery networks" have emerged to distribute digital content on the Internet. Alternative technologies for content delivery include peer-to-peer file sharing technologies.

Content can only be delivered if it exists. If it does not exist, several techniques and methods can be used for content creation or content regeneration.