====== Application Load Balancer (ALB) ======

**What it is:** A Layer 7 load balancer for HTTP/HTTPS traffic.

**What it’s for:**
  * Route requests based on content: URL path, host, headers.
  * Support microservices routing (path-based routing).

**Key ideas:**
  * Works with target groups.
  * Supports TLS termination (HTTPS).
  * Great for web apps and APIs.

**Exam cues:**
  * “route /api to service A and /admin to service B” → ALB path-based routing.

**Hard words:**
  * *layer 7* /ˈleɪər ˈsevən/: tầng ứng dụng (HTTP)
  * *terminate* /ˈtɝːrmɪneɪt/: kết thúc (TLS termination)
  * *header* /ˈhedər/: header HTTP