What is the difference between Node.js and Edge Runtime deployment in Next.js?

Explanation & Concept

• Node.js Runtime: Default environment. Full access to Node.js APIs (`fs`, `child_process`), npm packages, and native C++ bindings. • Edge Runtime: Lightweight V8 environment based on Web standard APIs. Starts instantly with zero cold boot time, deployed across global CDN edges, but does not support full Node.js modules.

Code Example

typescript

// Opt into Edge Runtime for instant global execution
export const runtime = "edge";

export async function GET() {
  return new Response("Hello from Edge CDN!");
}

How It Works & Key Takeaways

Edge runtime is ideal for geolocation routing, lightweight API proxies, and A/B test variations with sub-10ms global latency.