Reducing Edge Requests on Vercel

Edge Requests occur when visitors access your site through Vercel's Edge Network. These requests are made for all content on your site, including static assets and functions 1. Here's how you can optimize them for both static and dynamic pages:

For Static Pages

1. Optimize image loading:

   • Use Next.js Image component with proper sizing
   • Implement lazy loading for below-the-fold images
   • Consider using a single larger image instead of multiple smaller ones

2. Reduce unnecessary prefetching:

   • Add prefetch="false" to <Link> components for less critical pages 1
   • Implement conditional prefetching based on user behavior

3. Bundle and minify assets:

   • Combine CSS and JavaScript files
   • Use code splitting to load only what's needed
   • Implement tree shaking to eliminate unused code

4. Implement effective caching:

   • Set appropriate cache headers for static assets
   • Use long cache durations for assets that rarely change

For Dynamic Pages

1. Implement ISR (Incremental Static Regeneration):

   • Use ISR to cache dynamic content at the edge
   • Set appropriate revalidation periods based on content update frequency

2. Optimize API calls:

   • Batch API requests where possible
   • Implement server-side data fetching to reduce client-side requests
   • Use SWR or React Query with proper caching strategies

3. Reduce client-side polling:

   • Implement websockets for real-time updates instead of frequent polling
   • Use longer polling intervals where real-time updates aren't critical 1

4. Optimize re-renders:

   • Prevent unnecessary component re-mounting that triggers new requests
   • Use React.memo and useMemo to prevent unnecessary re-renders 1

Additional Optimization Techniques

1. Use Vercel Data Cache:

   • Cache frequently accessed data to reduce redundant requests 2
   • Implement appropriate TTL (Time To Live) values

2. Implement effective Edge Middleware:

   • Use matchers to run middleware only when necessary 1
   • Avoid running middleware on static asset requests

3. Monitor and analyze:

   • Use Vercel Analytics to identify high-request paths
   • Look for 304 status codes that indicate repeated requests 1

By implementing these strategies, you can significantly reduce the number of Edge Requests on your Vercel deployment, improving performance and potentially reducing costs.