What Is Serverless Computing and Its Use Cases?
Developing and deploying software used to involve managing endless details—servers, scaling, maintenance, and more.
But serverless computing offers a new approach: one where all the backend complexity is handled for you. All you need to do is write your code, and everything else runs smoothly in the background.
Don’t let the name fool you—there are still servers behind the scenes. The difference is that with serverless, you don’t have to manage them.
Intrigued? Keep reading to explore the concept of serverless computing, examine serverless architecture, and understand how it works.
What is Serverless Computing?
Serverless computing is a type of cloud computing that allows developers to build, deploy, and run applications without worrying about managing servers. Instead, a cloud service provider takes care of tasks like setting up, scaling, and maintaining the servers.
Despite the name serverless, it doesn’t mean there are no servers involved. Servers are still used, but they’re managed entirely by the provider. Developers don’t have to deal with configuring servers, planning capacity, or performing maintenance—these tasks are handled behind the scenes.
With serverless, you pay only for the resources your application uses during execution, avoiding costs for idle capacity. This “pay-as-you-go” model is one of its defining characteristics.
How Serverless Computing Came to Be
The late 2000s marked the beginning of serverless computing’s rise to prominence. Here’s how it evolved over time:
2008: Google App Engine
Google introduced the first platform that resembled a serverless system, enabling developers to deploy web applications without managing the underlying servers.
2014: AWS Lambda
Amazon Web Services allowed developers to execute code in response to events without managing servers, marking the formal beginning of Function as a Service (FaaS).
2016: Microsoft Azure Functions and Google Cloud Functions
Microsoft and Google introduced their own serverless platforms to compete with AWS.
Today
Serverless computing is a key offering from major cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, IBM Cloud, and more.
Comparison to Traditional Server-Based Computing
| Aspect | Traditional Server-Based Computing | Serverless Computing |
| Server Management | Requires configuring, maintaining, and scaling servers manually. | Fully managed by the cloud provider. |
| Scalability | Developers must anticipate demand and scale resources accordingly. | Automatically scales based on demand. |
| Cost Model | Pay for allocated resources, even if underutilized. | Pay only for actual execution time and resources used. |
| Complexity | Involves managing infrastructure, monitoring, and updates. | Simplifies development by abstracting infrastructure. |
| Provisioning Time | Can take hours or days to set up servers and resources. | Almost instant, with near-zero provisioning time. |
| Suitability | Works for long-running, stateful applications. | Ideal for short-lived, event-driven tasks. |
Key Components of a Serverless Architecture
Function as a Service (FaaS)
FaaS allows developers to run small, independent blocks of code—called functions—in response to events like HTTP requests, database changes, or message queue updates. The cloud provider handles the scaling and availability of these functions. Popular FaaS solutions include AWS Lambda, Google Cloud Functions, and Microsoft Azure Functions.
Back-end as a Service (BaaS)
BaaS offers prebuilt back-end services like databases, authentication, cloud storage, and real-time communication.
Developers interact with these services through APIs, removing the need to write and manage back-end logic for common functionality.
For instance, a service like Firebase Authentication can handle user login functionality, eliminating the need for a custom-built solution.
Event-Driven Architecture and Statelessness
Workflows in serverless applications are triggered by events such as actions or data updates.
For example, uploading a file might initiate a resizing or scanning function. These functions are stateless, meaning they do not retain data between executions.
External systems, such as databases or storage, handle the state, ensuring scalability and simplifying the horizontal scaling of applications.
Integration with Other Cloud Models
Two common areas where serverless excels are hybrid cloud setups and microservices architecture.
In hybrid cloud environments, serverless functions act as connectors between on-premises systems and cloud-based resources. For instance, a serverless function can process data from an on-premises server and upload the results to a cloud-based analytics platform. Businesses can use serverless for specific, intermittent tasks like compliance checks or report generation while keeping their core operations on-premises.
Serverless also complements microservices architecture, where each function serves as a small, independent service. These functions communicate with other microservices or APIs to create a modular system. They can be independently developed, deployed, and scaled to meet specific needs. They allow teams to use different programming languages or frameworks for each function, enabling greater flexibility and innovation.
How Serverless Computing Works
As mentioned earlier, the infrastructure is abstracted and managed by cloud service providers, but let’s look more closely at the mechanics of how serverless environments operate.
When a serverless application is triggered—for example, by an HTTP request, a database update, or a scheduled task—the cloud provider allocates the necessary resources to execute the associated function.
This process happens dynamically, ensuring that resources are provisioned only for the duration of the function’s execution. Once the function completes its task, the resources are deallocated, which contributes to the cost-efficiency of serverless computing.
The Role of Cloud Service Providers
Cloud service providers like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud handle all the operational aspects of running serverless applications. This includes:
- Provisioning: Automatically allocating compute power and storage when a function is triggered.
- Scaling: Adjusting resources in real-time to meet varying demand, whether it’s one request per hour or thousands of requests per second.
- Maintenance: Managing operating system updates, patching security vulnerabilities, and monitoring performance.
Scale to Zero and Pay-Per-Use Billing
One of the most distinctive features of serverless computing is the ability to scale to zero. When a serverless function isn’t actively running, no resources are allocated to it, which means you aren’t charged for idle capacity.
Billing is based solely on the actual execution time and the resources consumed during that period. This “pay-per-use” model ensures that costs are directly tied to application usage, making it a highly economical choice for applications with variable or unpredictable workloads.
Cold Starts and Warm Starts
Serverless environments introduce the concepts of cold starts and warm starts, which can impact performance.
Cold starts occur when a function is triggered after a period of inactivity and the cloud provider needs to initialize the execution environment before running the code. The initialization process adds latency, which can be noticeable in real-time applications.
If the function has been triggered recently, the execution environment is already active. These warm starts result in faster response times because no initialization is required.
To minimize the impact of cold starts, some providers offer options to keep functions pre-warmed, or developers can optimize their code and runtime configurations for faster startup.
Benefits of Serverless Computing
Let’s break down its benefits step by step so it’s easy to see why it’s becoming a go-to choice for developers and businesses.
Improved Developer Productivity
By abstracting server management, serverless computing allows developers to focus entirely on writing and optimizing code. Tasks like configuring servers, scaling resources, and managing maintenance are handled by the cloud provider.
Faster Time to Market
Serverless architectures accelerate the software development lifecycle (SDLC). Prebuilt backend services, automatic scaling, and event-driven triggers eliminate much of the setup and operational overhead. Developers can quickly deploy applications or updates, making serverless an excellent choice for projects that require agility and rapid iteration.
Cost Savings by Eliminating Idle Capacity
Traditional server-based models often involve paying for unused or idle capacity, leading to wasted resources. Serverless computing addresses this inefficiency by charging only for the actual execution time of functions. When a function isn’t running, no resources are allocated, and there’s no cost.
Automatic Scalability and Load Handling
Serverless systems handle scalability automatically, adjusting resources in real-time to meet fluctuating workloads. Whether an application is serving a single user or thousands, serverless infrastructure scales seamlessly without requiring manual intervention or predefined scaling rules.
Language and Framework Flexibility
Serverless platforms don’t tie you down to a specific language or framework. Whether you prefer Python, JavaScript, or Java—or even a mix—you’re free to use the tools that work best for your project. For example, a team working on a data science pipeline can use Python for processing, while the front-end team might choose JavaScript for API integration. Everyone gets to use their favorite tools without compatibility headaches.
Sustainability and Reduced Carbon Footprint
Serverless computing promotes resource efficiency by allocating infrastructure only when needed. Compared to traditional always-on servers, this minimizes energy waste, reducing the overall carbon footprint. Businesses can align their IT practices with sustainability goals while benefiting from the cost and performance advantages of serverless.
Cost Efficiency (Pay-As-You-Go Model)
With serverless computing, costs are directly tied to application usage. Instead of paying for reserved resources, businesses are billed only for the compute time and memory consumed during function execution. This makes serverless particularly advantageous for applications with variable or unpredictable workloads, as it eliminates the need to overprovision resources.
Use Cases of Serverless Computing
Serverless computing is versatile, supporting a wide range of applications across industries. Here are some key use cases that demonstrate its potential.
Websites and APIs
Serverless architectures are ideal for hosting dynamic websites and APIs. With built-in auto-scaling, serverless platforms can handle sudden spikes in traffic without the risk of crashing.
Developers can simplify backend development by focusing on core functionality while the cloud provider manages the infrastructure.
For example, a serverless API can serve as the backbone of a mobile app, scaling seamlessly as user demand grows.
Event Streaming and Processing
Serverless is well-suited for building real-time data pipelines. Functions can be triggered by events such as incoming messages, sensor data, or log updates, enabling rapid processing and analytics.
For instance, a serverless setup can process event streams to update dashboards, trigger alerts, or enrich data in real-time, making it invaluable for monitoring systems or IoT applications.
Image and Video Processing
Serverless platforms excel at handling tasks like resizing images, transcoding videos, or moderating content. These functions can be triggered when users upload files, automating workflows efficiently.
For example, an e-commerce site can dynamically resize uploaded product images, or a social media app can use serverless functions to transcode user videos for different devices.
CI/CD Pipelines
Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines rely on automation, and serverless computing simplifies these processes. Functions can be triggered to build code, run tests, and deploy updates automatically.
Hybrid Cloud Applications
Serverless computing enables integration between services across multiple cloud providers or between on-premises systems and the cloud.
For instance, a serverless function can process data from an on-prem system and store it in a cloud database or connect workflows across different providers to leverage each of their best features.
AI and Machine Learning
Running machine learning models and training jobs can be resource-intensive, but serverless platforms offer on-demand computing power to handle these tasks efficiently. Functions can be used to preprocess data, train models, or serve predictions in real time. For example, a serverless ML pipeline could classify images or analyze text sentiment based on incoming data.
Microservices
Serverless functions are a natural fit for microservices architectures. Each function can represent a discrete service that performs a specific task, such as handling user authentication or processing payments.
These services are event-driven, independently deployable, and easily scalable, making them ideal for building robust, modular applications.
Shaping the Next Chapter in Application Development
Serverless computing offers a practical approach to modern software development, removing the complexities of infrastructure management and allowing developers to focus on building effective solutions. Its ability to simplify operations, enhance scalability, and optimize costs makes it an appealing choice for organizations aiming to streamline their development processes.
With applications ranging from scalable APIs and real-time data processing to machine learning and hybrid cloud integrations, serverless computing demonstrates its versatility and efficiency across diverse scenarios. It provides a clear path for businesses seeking to improve productivity and manage workloads more effectively.
As you evaluate strategies to improve your software development processes, serverless computing presents an opportunity worth considering.
Serverless is just the beginning. Whether you’re looking to explore cloud-native applications or address a business challenge, Taazaa—a custom software development company—is here to help you. Contact us to create software that grows with your business.
