Load Balancing Algorithms

Choose the right load balancing algorithm for your workload characteristics. Compare round robin, least connections, weighted, IP hash, and consistent hashing with practical guidance.

Usage

Describe your workload to get a recommendation for the best load balancing algorithm, or ask about specific algorithms.

Examples

• "Which load balancing algorithm should I use for my stateless API?"
• "How does consistent hashing work for caching layers?"
• "When should I use least connections vs round robin?"

Guidelines

• Round robin works well for stateless services with uniform request costs
• Least connections is better when request processing times vary significantly
• Use IP hash or consistent hashing when session affinity is needed
• Weighted algorithms help when backend servers have different capacities
• Always configure health checks regardless of the chosen algorithm