All 5 Edge Runtime vs Node.js Runtime questions
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What is the difference between the Edge Runtime and the Node.js Runtime in Next.js? What are the limitations of the Edge Runtime that might require you to use the Node.js Runtime instead? How do you specify which runtime a specific route or middleware should use in Next.js? What factors should guide the decision between using the Edge Runtime or the Node.js Runtime for a given feature?
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Next.js › Edge Runtime vs Node.js Runtime

Why is the Edge Runtime generally faster for responding to users around the world?

Beginner

Answer

The Edge Runtime runs on servers distributed across many geographic locations, so a request from a user in one country can be handled by a server physically close to them rather than traveling to a single central server, reducing the network travel time and speeding up the response.
// Edge functions run in data centers near the user
// reducing latency for globally distributed traffic
Real-world example A shopping website uses edge middleware to quickly redirect users to their local currency version of the site, with the check happening almost instantly because it runs on a server near each visitor.

Common follow-ups: Does using the Edge Runtime always guarantee faster performance?;What kinds of tasks are best suited for edge functions?

Middleware;Web Vitals & Performance Monitoring
All 5 Edge Runtime vs Node.js Runtime questions