Core serverless computing concepts including event triggers, cold starts, and function as a service platforms like Lambda and Azure Functions.
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- What is serverless computing?
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A cloud computing model where the provider manages infrastructure and developers deploy code that runs only when triggered by events, paying only for execution time.
- What does FaaS stand for?
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Function as a Service.
- What is a cold start in serverless?
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The initial delay when a function executes for the first time or after being idle, caused by runtime initialization.
- What is a warm start in serverless?
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When a function executes quickly because its runtime environment is already initialized and available.
- What is Google Cloud Functions?
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Google Cloud's serverless compute service for running code in response to cloud events or HTTP requests.
- What is an event trigger?
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A mechanism that automatically invokes a function in response to a specific event, such as a file upload, database change, or HTTP request.
- What is event-driven architecture?
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A design pattern where components communicate through events and event handlers rather than direct method calls or tight coupling.
- Name three event sources for serverless functions.
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HTTP requests, database changes, file storage events, queue messages, scheduled timers, or API calls.
- What is the typical billing model for serverless?
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Pay-per-use based on the number of function invocations and compute time consumed, usually in millisecond increments.
- What does stateless mean for serverless functions?
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Functions do not retain data between invocations; any required state must be stored in external services like databases or caches.
- How is code packaged in serverless?
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Functions and their runtime dependencies are packaged into lightweight containers that are isolated and executed independently.
- What is provisioned concurrency in Lambda?
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A feature that keeps a specified number of function instances warm and ready to handle traffic without cold start delays.
- How does serverless differ from containers?
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Serverless abstracts away infrastructure management completely and charges only for execution time, while containers require explicit resource allocation and run continuously.
- What is auto-scaling in serverless?
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The automatic, immediate scaling where functions spawn new instances to handle increased load without manual intervention.
- What is a function version?
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A numbered snapshot of a function's code and configuration at a specific point in time, allowing rollback and multiple versions to coexist.