What Does 'Edge Computing' Mean?

Edge computing is a distributed computing paradigm that brings computation and data storage closer to the edge of the network, where data is generated and consumed. It enables low-latency and high-bandwidth communication between devices and applications and allows for real-time processing of data.

Traditionally, data is processed in the cloud or in a central data center, which can be far from the devices generating the data. This can lead to latency issues, as the data has to travel a long distance over the network before it can be processed. Edge computing addresses this issue by bringing the computation and data storage closer to the edge of the network, closer to the devices generating the data.

Edge computing has become increasingly popular in recent years due to the explosion of connected devices and the Internet of Things (IoT). These devices generate a large amount of data, which needs to be processed in real-time to enable immediate actions to be taken.

For example, in the case of a self-driving car, data from sensors and cameras needs to be processed in real-time to enable the car to navigate and make decisions. Edge computing allows this data to be processed at the edge of the network, rather than sending it back to a central data center for processing.

Edge computing also has the advantage of being more resilient to network outages as it reduces reliance on the cloud or central data centers. If the network goes down, devices at the edge of the network can still process data and make decisions based on local data.

There are several types of edge computing architectures, including:

Fog computing: This is a type of edge computing that brings computation and data storage closer to the edge of the network, but not necessarily all the way to the device generating the data. It is often used in IoT applications where there is a high volume of data being generated and the devices are not powerful enough to process the data themselves.

Mobile edge computing: This is a type of edge computing that brings computation and data storage to the edge of the mobile network. It is used to enable low-latency communication and real-time processing of data in applications such as virtual reality and augmented reality.

Multi-access edge computing: This is a type of edge computing that brings computation and data storage to the edge of the network for multiple access technologies, such as cellular, WiFi, and satellite. It is used to enable low-latency communication and real-time processing of data in applications such as remote monitoring and control.

Edge computing has numerous applications, including IoT, smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and industrial automation. It allows for the real-time processing of data, enabling immediate actions to be taken based on that data. It also reduces reliance on the cloud and central data centers, making it more resilient to network outages.