Overview
Serverless computing is a cloud computing model where developers run code without managing servers or infrastructure. Cloud providers automatically handle provisioning, scaling, and maintenance, so teams can focus on writing applications. Despite the name, servers are still involved, but their management is invisible to the user.
What Problem Does It Solve?
Traditionally, applications run on servers that must be purchased, configured, and scaled manually. This leads to wasted resources when demand is low and performance issues when demand spikes. Serverless computing solves this by providing on-demand execution: resources scale automatically with workload, and organisations only pay for the compute time used.
How It Works
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Functions as a Service (FaaS): Developers write functions that execute in response to events, such as API calls, file uploads, or database updates.
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Event-driven model: Code runs only when triggered, staying idle otherwise.
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Provider-managed scaling: Cloud providers allocate compute resources dynamically and handle scaling up or down instantly.
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Pay-per-use billing: Charges are based on the number of requests and execution time, not on idle infrastructure.
Everyday Benefits
- No need to manage or patch servers.
- Cost efficiency by paying only for actual usage.
- Faster time to market with simpler deployment models.
- Built-in high availability and scalability provided by the cloud provider.
Deployment Considerations
Serverless platforms include AWS Lambda, Azure Functions, and Google Cloud Functions. While powerful, serverless can introduce challenges such as cold-start latency, vendor lock-in, and limited execution time. It works best for event-driven workloads, APIs, microservices, and applications that experience variable or unpredictable traffic.
