What Are Edge Functions?
Edge functions are server-side code that runs on a distributed network of servers positioned close to your users around the world. Unlike traditional servers that operate from a single data center, edge functions execute at the network edge—the point closest to where users access your application.
According to DEV Community analysis, edge computing and serverless architectures represent a paradigm shift in building fast, scalable, and globally resilient applications. This is why the best AI mobile app builders now integrate edge functions automatically.
Global Distribution
Code runs on 300+ servers worldwide, not a single data center. Users connect to the nearest location automatically.
Near-Zero Latency
V8 isolates enable cold starts under 5ms on platforms like Cloudflare Workers. Traditional servers take 100-1000ms.
Automatic Scaling
Handle 10 or 10 million requests with no configuration. The platform manages capacity and load balancing.
Global Edge Network Coverage
Click a region to see edge function performance
Serverless Architecture Explained
Serverless architecture does not mean there are no servers—it means you do not manage them. According to Precedence Research, the global serverless computing market will grow from $28 billion in 2025 to $92 billion by 2034 at a 14.15% CAGR. This growth reflects how seriously businesses take no DevOps app development.
Traditional Hosting
- ✗Provision and manage servers manually
- ✗Pay for idle capacity 24/7
- ✗Handle scaling and load balancing yourself
- ✗Manage security patches and updates
- ✗Single region unless you configure multi-region
Serverless Architecture
- ✓Zero server management required
- ✓Pay only for actual usage (up to 70% savings)
- ✓Automatic scaling from 0 to millions
- ✓Platform handles all security and updates
- ✓Global distribution by default
Serverless Adoption Statistics (2026)
70%
of North American enterprises run production serverless
CNCF 2024 Survey
100%+
YoY growth in AWS Lambda usage
Datadog Serverless Report
40%
of global serverless market share in North America
Precedence Research
Python & Node.js
account for over half of Lambda invocations
AWS Lambda Statistics
How AI App Builders Handle Backend Complexity
The best AI mobile app builders for business abstract away backend infrastructure entirely. When you describe your app to an AI builder, it generates code that connects to managed serverless services automatically. This is why modern mobile app builders can deliver production-ready apps without requiring DevOps expertise.
Describe Your App
Tell the AI what your app should do in plain English. Include features like user authentication, data storage, real-time updates, or file uploads.
AI Generates Connected Code
The AI writes React Native code that integrates with Supabase for database, auth, storage, and edge functions. No manual backend setup required.
Backend Runs Automatically
Supabase handles PostgreSQL queries, user sessions, file storage, and serverless functions. Everything scales automatically as your app grows.
Deploy Globally
Your app connects to edge functions worldwide. Users in Tokyo, London, or New York all get sub-50ms response times without any configuration.
Natively: AI Mobile App Builder with Built-in Backend
Natively integrates with Supabase to provide database, authentication, cloud storage, and edge functions for your mobile apps. Describe your app in plain English, and get production-ready iOS and Android apps with full backend capabilities—no server management required. Starting at just $5/month.
Supabase Edge Functions: What You Get
Supabase Edge Functions are server-side TypeScript functions distributed globally at the edge. They power cloud functions for apps built with AI builders like Natively, handling everything from webhook processing to AI inference without you managing any infrastructure.
TypeScript First
Write functions in TypeScript with Deno runtime. Full type safety and modern JavaScript features.
Global Distribution
Functions run at the nearest edge location automatically. Sub-50ms cold starts with V8 isolates.
Background Tasks
Run long tasks up to 400 seconds on paid plans using EdgeRuntime.waitUntil() for async processing.
WebSocket Support
Build real-time features directly in edge functions without additional infrastructure.
Supabase Integration
Native access to Auth, Database, and Storage. Call Postgres directly from edge functions.
Secrets Management
Store API keys and credentials securely. Access via environment variables in your functions.
Common Edge Function Use Cases
Webhook Receivers
Process Stripe payments, GitHub events, or any third-party webhook
AI Inference
Orchestrate calls to OpenAI, Anthropic, or other LLM APIs
Image Generation
Create Open Graph images or thumbnails on-demand
Authentication Checks
Validate tokens and permissions at the edge
Data Transformation
Process and transform data before storing in database
Bot Integration
Build Slack, Discord, or Telegram bots with instant response
Edge Function Platform Comparison
Not all serverless platforms are equal. According to DEV Community benchmarks, cold start times and global coverage vary significantly. Here is how the major platforms compare for AI app development.
| Platform | Cold Start | Edge Locations | Runtime | Free Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare Workers | < 5ms | 300+ | V8 Isolates | 100K req/day |
| Supabase Edge Functions | < 50ms | Global via Deno Deploy | Deno (V8) | 500K invocations |
| Vercel Edge Functions | < 50ms | Global (all plans) | V8 Isolates | 100K invocations |
| AWS Lambda@Edge | 100-1000ms | 13 CloudFront regions | Containers | 1M requests |
| Google Cloud Functions | 200-500ms | 24 regions | Containers | 2M invocations |
Sources: 5ly Performance Analysis, AIMultiple Research 2026
Why AI App Builders Use Supabase
Supabase provides the complete backend stack—database, auth, storage, and edge functions—with a single integration. AI builders like Natively connect to Supabase automatically, giving you enterprise-grade infrastructure without configuring multiple services.
Real-World Apps Built Without DevOps
According to Middleware analysis, serverless architecture powers production systems across financial services, media, entertainment, and public sector. Here are examples of what you can build with AI app builders that use serverless backends.
Real-Time Marketplace App
- User authentication and profiles
- Product listings with image uploads
- Real-time chat between buyers/sellers
- Payment processing via webhooks
- Push notifications for updates
Backend:
Supabase Auth, Storage, Realtime, Edge Functions
AI-Powered Mobile App
- Natural language processing
- Image recognition and analysis
- Personalized recommendations
- Vector search for semantic queries
- Conversation history storage
Backend:
Supabase pgvector, Edge Functions for LLM orchestration
Enterprise Dashboard
- SSO authentication
- Role-based access control
- Real-time data visualization
- Export and reporting functions
- Audit logging
Backend:
Supabase Auth, Row Level Security, Edge Functions
Content Creator Platform
- Video and media uploads
- Subscriber management
- Payment integration
- Analytics and insights
- Social sharing features
Backend:
Supabase Storage, Auth, Database, Edge Functions
Find Your Ideal Backend Architecture
Not sure if serverless and edge functions are right for your project? Take this quick quiz to get a personalized recommendation.
What type of app are you building?
Frequently Asked Questions
Edge functions are serverless functions that run on servers distributed globally, close to your users. Instead of routing all requests to a single data center, edge functions execute at the nearest location, reducing latency from hundreds of milliseconds to under 50ms. Apps need them for fast API responses, real-time features, authentication checks, and any server-side logic that benefits from low latency. Modern AI app builders integrate edge functions automatically so you get global performance without configuring servers.