What is the purpose of CloudFront cache invalidation?

The purpose of CloudFront cache invalidation is to remove outdated content from edge caches. When you use Amazon CloudFront, it caches content at various edge locations around the world to provide lower latency and faster delivery to users. However, there may be times when the content that has been cached is no longer current or has been updated. In such cases, cache invalidation allows you to specify which files should be removed from the cache. This ensures that users receive the most up-to-date version of your content when they make a request.

This process is crucial for maintaining the accuracy and relevance of the content delivered through CloudFront, particularly for dynamic websites or applications where content changes frequently. By invalidating the cache, you can ensure that the content served to users is current and consistent with your back-end databases or storage solutions.

In contrast, other options involve aspects that are not the primary purpose of cache invalidation. For example, enhancing security for sensitive content pertains to access controls and encryption rather than cache management. Redirecting user requests to the nearest edge location is part of how CloudFront optimizes content delivery based on latency but does not relate to invalidating stale content. Similarly, compressing and optimizing content delivery focuses on improving performance rather than specifically addressing the state