Google Cloud Platform for Developers

HTTP(S) load balancers

HTTP(S) load balancers are global load balancers specifically designed to handle HTTP and HTTPS traffic. Compared to TCP/SSL proxy load balancers, HTTP(S) load balancers offer a number of additional features and optimizations. While TCP and SSL proxy load balancers can be used to load balance HTTP(S) traffic globally, it is generally advisable to use HTTP(S) load balancers when possible.

In addition to the components involved in TCP/SSL load balancing, HTTP(S) load balancing introduces the concept of URL maps. URL maps allow HTTP and HTTPS proxies to route requests to specific backend services based on the request URL path, a practice known as content-based load balancing. For example, a URL map may specify that requests ...