# edge function

CEFR C2 · Compound

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/edge-function
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Definition

a small piece of computer code that runs very close to the user instead of on a far-away main server. This makes websites and apps respond much faster because the data does not have to travel as far.

For teachers: a serverless script executed at the network edge, typically within a Content Delivery Network (CDN) point of presence. By processing logic geographically closer to the end-user, it minimizes latency and reduces the load on origin servers.

## Examples

- The developer used an edge function to personalize the website for local users.
- By deploying an edge function, the engineering team managed to reduce the page load time for international visitors by several hundred milliseconds.
- Modern web architectures leverage edge functions to handle authentication and A/B testing at the edge, ensuring that the origin server only receives requests that have already been validated and routed.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in the context of cloud computing and web development; often associated with platforms like Vercel, Netlify, or AWS CloudFront.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.