Supabase Edge Functions Best Practices

Comprehensive guide for Supabase Edge Functions development, debugging, and integration with database triggers.

Core Concepts

Authentication Patterns

Edge Functions support two authentication modes:

1. JWT Verification (verify_jwt: true) - Default, validates Authorization header contains valid JWT
2. Custom Auth (verify_jwt: false) - Function handles auth internally (API keys, webhooks)

Service Role vs Anon Key:

• Anon key (eyJ..., ~219 chars): JWT for client-side, limited permissions via RLS
• Service role key (sb_secret_..., ~600 chars): Full admin access, bypasses RLS, NEVER expose to client

Database Trigger Integration