Serverless functions vs Edge functions????

Hey devs!???? Let's talk about the fascinating realm of edge functions and demystify the differences from their serverless counterparts.

?? Serverless Functions:

serverless functions are like the wizards of the cloud. You conjure a function, toss it into the cloud, and zap! It's ready to work its magic when you call upon it. Think aws lambda or azure functions. These cloud-based marvels offer scalability on-demand and a pricing model where you only pay for execution, not server uptime. In traditional servers (heroku) you pay for the server uptime means your server is running 247 and you are paying for the whole time even if no requests are being made to your server.

But, here's the catch. Cold starts and latency can play the villain in this cloud saga. Cold starts occur when a function hibernates, requiring a wake-up call that takes time. Additionally, high latency kicks in when your function is chilling in a distant data center, making users wait for the data round trip.

Now if you are thinking about why this cold starts happens here's a breakdown of why cold starts occur:

On-demand execution: serverless platforms, such as aws lambda or azure functions, follow an on-demand execution model. This means that the platform creates instances of your function only when there's an incoming request. If there's no recent activity, instances might be scaled down or even deactivated to save resources.

Resource allocation: when a new request comes in and there's no active instance of your function, the serverless platform needs to allocate resources, spin up a new container or virtual machine, and load your function code. This process takes time, and during this time, the function is said to be experiencing a cold start.

Initialization overhead: depending on the complexity of your function and its dependencies, there might be additional time needed for initialization. For example, if your function requires loading libraries, establishing connections, or setting up environmental variables, these steps contribute to the overall cold start time.

If you are familiar with nextjs api routes or route handlers if you wanna call it, they are just serverless functions. When a nextjs website is deployed for example in vercel they just take those functions and just like I said before they put it in cloud. Every time a new request is made to your server the functions run. Don't think that your server is running 247 in this case.

I know this can be a little bit hard to wrap head around. And to be honest, I don't either fully understand everything that goes down behind the scenes?? But I think the most important part is that we understand the basic principle behind that logic and behind serverless functions.

?? Edge Functions:

now, meet edge functions! They're the cool cousins of serverless functions, deployed not to a single server but across multiple servers scattered worldwide hence the name. This global deployment at the edges of the internet slashes the travel distance for requests. When a client calls a function, it connects to the nearest server, minimizing latency and delivering a speedy user experience.

Another plot twist: edge functions use a different runtime, often relying on the google v8 javascript and web assembly engine. This means a slightly different set of apis compared to their cloud-based counterparts.

In nextjs you can specify a function to be executed in edge environement just by adding these lines in api routes:

?? Benefits of the Edge: A Faster, Snappier Experience

the edge functions' superpower lies in reducing latency and enhancing user experience. No more waiting for data to cross continents! They leverage a network of servers strategically positioned, ensuring your function is just a hop away from the user.

???? Why Does it Matter for Developers?

For developers passionate about user experience and performance, understanding edge functions is a game-changer. It's not just tech jargon; it's about crafting applications that feel lightning-fast and responsive.

Ready to ride the edge wave? Let's make our applications faster and more responsive than ever! Drop your thoughts below and let's spark a conversation!??#EdgeFunctions #Serverless #TechExploration #DeveloperLife#edgefunctions #serverless #techexploration #developerlife