Vercel Edge Explained. Use cases, benefits and limitations.

Vercel's edge computing solutions, including edge middleware and edge functions, are designed to enhance serverless functions by minimizing latency and addressing cold start issues through execution at locations close to the user. Edge middleware intercepts requests before reaching the edge cache, allowing for request modifications, while edge functions serve as a replacement for serverless functions and execute backend logic after the cache. Both offerings run on Vercel's edge runtime using a V8 JavaScript engine, although they have limitations such as lack of support for native Node.js APIs and restrictions on code size and execution time. These edge solutions are particularly advantageous for use cases like feature flagging, A/B testing, authentication, and localization, offering faster performance and lower costs compared to traditional serverless functions. Despite these benefits, the limitations of Vercel's edge products may confine their application to specific scenarios, yet their potential for broader adoption remains promising.