Demystifying edge functions

Edge computing is a distributed architecture that processes data near its source, reducing latency and bandwidth usage by minimizing long-distance communication between client and server. Unlike traditional cloud or on-premises architectures, it relocates computing resources closer to where data is generated, such as on IoT devices or edge servers. Edge computing offers various benefits, including improved performance, enhanced security through local encryption, and compliance with data residency laws, making it suitable for environments with limited connectivity. It is increasingly adopted across industries for applications like traffic management, healthcare, content delivery, smart homes, cloud gaming, and video conferencing. Edge functions, which run JavaScript code at the edge, enhance developer efficiency by enabling features like A/B testing and dynamic routing, and are supported by platforms like AWS Lambda@Edge, Cloudflare Workers, and Vercel. With predictions indicating significant growth in edge computing, it is expected to handle a substantial portion of global data processing by 2025, driven by the need for faster and more localized computation.