Edge Computing

Edge computing refers to processing data and services closer to the edge of the network, closer to the user or data source. This is in contrast to cloud computing where everything is processed in large, centralized data centers that can be far away from users. The "edge" can include devices like phones, laptops, sensors, etc.

The main benefits of edge computing are reduced latency, improved response times, and less data transport. For example, an autonomous vehicle analyzing real-time sensor data for driving decisions needs the fastest response times. Doing this analysis on the vehicle's internal computers instead of sending data to the cloud and back is faster. Another example is streaming video - edge networks locally cache popular content to reduce long distance data transfer. Overall, edge computing is ideal for use cases that demand very fast response times or need to operate reliably without constant cloud connectivity. It brings data processing and services physically closer to the user or data source for better performance.