The Evolution of Edge Computing: From CDN to Distributed Applications

Edge computing has evolved beyond simple content delivery to enable sophisticated distributed applications running closer to end users. Modern edge platforms support full application logic, stateful sessions, and real-time data processing with sub-50ms latencies worldwide. This shift is driving new architectural patterns like edge-first design, regional data sovereignty, and hybrid edge-cloud deployments. Use cases range from personalized e-commerce experiences to IoT data aggregation and real-time gaming. As edge platforms add database capabilities and enhanced developer tools, they are becoming first-class deployment targets alongside traditional cloud regions.