> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.serverlessapigateway.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.serverlessapigateway.com/glossary/e/edge-computing.md).

# Edge Computing

A distributed computing paradigm that brings computation and data storage closer to the location where it is needed, to improve response times and save bandwidth.

Edge computing is a distributed computing model that processes data closer to where it is generated or consumed, rather than relying on a centralized data center. By moving computation to the "edge" of the network -- near end users or IoT devices -- edge computing reduces latency, decreases bandwidth usage, and enables real-time processing.

Edge computing environments range from small IoT gateways to globally distributed CDN edge nodes. Cloud providers offer edge compute services such as Cloudflare Workers, AWS Lambda\@Edge, and Deno Deploy, which run application code at points of presence around the world.

Edge computing is directly relevant to API gateway architecture. An edge-deployed API gateway processes requests at the nearest edge location to the client, handling authentication, rate limiting, request routing, and response caching without a round trip to a central server. This approach significantly reduces API response times, especially for geographically distributed users, and provides inherent resilience against regional outages.


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the following URL with the `ask` and `goal` query parameters:

```
GET https://docs.serverlessapigateway.com/glossary/e/edge-computing.md?ask=<question>&goal=<user_goal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is what the user is ultimately trying to achieve, the reason they need the answer. Sharing it helps GitBook give you a better, more relevant answer. A goal is most helpful when it describes the outcome the user wants rather than restating the question. For example, with `ask=how do I create an API token`, a goal like `automate deployments from our CI pipeline` lets GitBook tailor the answer to that use case.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
