# Overview of L7 Load Balancer #flashcard A load balancer that understands [[Layer 7 - Application]] protocol, like HTTP. This allows them to examine the actual content of each request and make intelligent routing decisions, at the cost of speed. Key characteristics of L7 load balancers: - Terminate incoming connections and create new ones to backend servers. - Can route based on request content (URL, headers, cookies, etc.). - More CPU-intensive due to packet inspection. - Provide more flexibility and features. - Better suited for HTTP-based traffic. <!--ID: 1751507776466--> # Key Considerations # Pros # Cons # Use Cases # Related Topics