AWS Lambda is a compute service that lets you run your code without provisioning or managing servers. AWS Lambda runs your code only when needed and automatically scales from a few requests per day to thousands per second. You only pay for the computing time you consume - there are no charges when your code is not running.
To get started using AWS Lambda, you need to understand some basic concepts about how it works. This getting started guide to AWS Lambda provides an in-depth look at setting up AWS Lambda and how you can use this powerful service for backend development.
AWS Lambda Overview
AWS Lambda allows you to run your code in response to events such as changes to data in an Amazon S3 bucket or Amazon DynamoDB table, state updates from an Amazon IoT device, HTTP requests from clients via Amazon API Gateway and more.
With AWS Lambda, you can focus on writing code without worrying about infrastructure. To do this, you just need to write the business logic, package it in a Lambda function, and then define how that function will be invoked. AWS Lambda does the rest, ensuring your applications are highly available and scalable.
Configuring AWS Lambda
Setting up AWS Lambda is a simple process, but it requires a few important steps to ensure your code runs correctly. Here are the steps to configure AWS Lambda:
1. Create a Lambda function
A Lambda function is a script or program that AWS Lambda runs in response to an event. To create a Lambda function, you need to provide some basic information, such as the function name, the programming language (Python in this case), and the function code.
2. Set Lambda function permissions
Lambda function permissions determine what the function can and cannot do. For example, if your function needs to read data from an Amazon S3 bucket, you need to give the function permission to do so.
3. Configure the Lambda event trigger
A Lambda event trigger is a specific AWS resource or endpoint that can invoke your Lambda function when certain events occur. For example, you can configure an Amazon S3 bucket to invoke your Lambda function whenever a new object is created.
4. Test your Lambda function
After you create and configure your Lambda function, you should test it to ensure it is working correctly. AWS Lambda provides a user interface that allows you to invoke your function and see the result.
Conclusion
AWS Lambda is a powerful tool for building scalable, highly available backend applications. With AWS Lambda, you can focus on writing code, while AWS Lambda takes care of the infrastructure for you. This getting started guide to AWS Lambda should help you get started using this service and understand how to set up AWS Lambda for your own projects.