Edge computing is a distributed computing paradigm that brings computation and data storage closer to the sources of data. This is expected to improve response times and save bandwidth. It is an architecture rather than a specific technology, and it involves processing data at the 'edge' of the network, near the device or user, rather than sending it all to a centralized cloud server. This is critical for real-time applications where latency is a concern.
The origins of edge computing can be traced back to content delivery networks (CDNs) created in the late 1990s to serve web content from servers closer to users. The modern concept emerged around the 2010s with the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT). As IoT devices began generating massive amounts of data, sending it all to the cloud became inefficient and slow. Cisco introduced the term 'Fog Computing' in 2014, a related concept that helped popularize the distributed approach.
Edge computing is rapidly spreading with the deployment of 5G networks and the proliferation of IoT devices. It is essential for technologies that require instant decision-making, such as autonomous vehicles, industrial automation, and smart cities. It also addresses privacy concerns by keeping sensitive data local. Major cloud providers (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) are now extending their services to the edge, making it a standard part of modern IT infrastructure.