Definition
Origin fetch is the traffic from a CDN back to the origin server when content is not cached.
Why it matters
Origin fetch adds egress and request costs that can materially impact margins, especially when cache hit rates are low.
Pricing implications
If origin fetch costs are significant, include them in blended bandwidth costs or charge separately for cache misses.
Measurement tips
Track cache hit rate and origin egress volume by plan.
Checklist
- Monitor cache hit rate and origin egress.
- Include origin fetch costs in cost models.
- Improve cache policies to reduce origin traffic.
- Align pricing with cache miss behavior.
- Separate CDN and origin costs in reports.
- Update costs when CDN or origin pricing changes.
- Avoid assuming 100% cache hit rate.
- Validate with billing exports.