What is Edge Computing?
Edge computing runs code on servers physically close to your users around the world, rather than in a single central data center. It dramatically reduces latency for global users.
In plain English
Edge computing is like having a local convenience store instead of one central warehouse. Rather than driving across town for everything, you grab what you need from the store down the street. The closer the server, the faster the response — geography matters on the internet.
How it works
Edge platforms like Cloudflare Workers, Vercel Edge Functions, or Fastly Compute deploy your code to hundreds of locations globally. When a user makes a request, it's handled by the nearest edge node rather than routed to a single origin server. Edge runtimes are lightweight (no full Node.js), making cold starts nearly instant.
Why it matters for AI-built apps
A Next.js app deployed to a single US region will feel slow to users in Europe or Asia — sometimes 200–500ms slower just from network distance. Edge middleware lets you run authentication, redirects, personalization, and A/B testing at zero latency for every user worldwide. It also improves Core Web Vitals scores which affect SEO.
Best practices
Only run lightweight, stateless logic at the edge — it's not suitable for database queries or heavy computation. Pair edge functions with a CDN to cache responses close to users as well. Be aware of edge runtime limitations: no native Node.js APIs, limited package compatibility.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vercel's edge network the same as a CDN?
Related but different. A CDN caches static assets at the edge. Vercel's edge functions execute dynamic code at the edge. Vercel uses both for a complete edge architecture.
Does edge computing work with databases?
Direct database connections from the edge are difficult due to connection limits and latency to the database origin. Use edge-compatible data layers like Cloudflare D1, PlanetScale's HTTP API, or Upstash Redis instead.
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