Vercel Edge Functions

Vercel Edge Functions are serverless functions that execute on Vercel's globally distributed edge network instead of centralized cloud regions. They run on V8 isolates (lightweight JavaScript VMs) and deliver response times <10ms to most users worldwide. Edge Functions are ideal for low-latency request handling: authentication, personalization, rate limiting, geolocation-based routing, and middleware logic. Edge Functions integrate tightly with Next.js middleware, allowing developers to intercept requests before they reach origin servers. This unlocks patterns like authentication at the edge, A/B testing without server-side overhead, and real-time content personalization.