What Are Edge Nodes?
Edge nodes are computing devices that sit at the edge of a network, typically between an internal network and the public internet. They act as gateways for data traffic, allowing users to access resources on both sides of the connection while providing security measures such as firewalls and encryption. Edge nodes can be used in many different scenarios including cloud computing, IoT networks, content delivery networks (CDNs), and more.
Edge nodes provide several advantages over traditional server-based architectures by reducing latency and improving scalability. By placing these devices closer to end users or other services they need to communicate with, it reduces the amount of time needed for data transmission which improves performance overall. Additionally, since edge nodes are distributed across multiple locations they can handle large amounts of requests without becoming overwhelmed like a single centralized server would be prone to do. This makes them ideal for applications that require high availability or those dealing with sensitive information where security is paramount.