What does Serverless Architecture mean?

Serverless architecture (also known as serverless computing or function as a service, FaaS) is a software design paradigm in which third-party services host applications, removing the developer’s need to handle server software and hardware.

Distinct functions are divided down into individual applications that can be called and scaled independently.

To run your apps, databases, and storage systems, you no longer need to provision, scale, and maintain servers.

When you choose a serverless design, your developers can focus on their core product instead of worrying about managing and administering servers or runtimes, whether in the cloud or on-premises.

This reduced overhead frees up time and resources for developers to focus on creating amazing, scalable, and dependable solutions.

What is Serverless Computing?

Serverless computing refers to the practice of offering backend services on a per-user basis.

Users can build and deploy code without having to worry about the underlying infrastructure using a serverless provider.

Because the service is auto-scaling, a company that uses backend services from a serverless vendor is charged depending on their calculations and does not have to reserve and pay for a fixed amount of bandwidth or number of servers.

Despite their nickname, serverless, physical servers are still used, and developers do not need to be aware of them.

In the early days of the web, anyone who wanted to construct a web application had to own the physical gear required to run a server, which was a time-consuming and costly task.

Then came cloud computing, which allowed users to rent certain numbers of servers or amounts of server space through the internet.

Developers and businesses that rent these fixed units of server space typically buy more than they need to ensure that a surge in traffic or activity does not cause their applications to crash.

This means that a lot of the money spent on server space could be wasted.

To solve the problem, cloud vendors have offered auto-scaling models.

However, even with auto-scaling, an unwelcome spike in activity, such as a DDoS attack, might be highly costly.

Serverless computing allows developers to purchase backend services on a flexible ‘pay-as-you-go’ basis.

This means that developers only have to pay for the services they use.

This is like switching from a cell phone data plan to a monthly fixed limit to one that only charges for each byte of data that actually gets used.

Read: Tips for Getting Started with Cloud Computing

How Serverless Architecture Works

Users can interface with an application and access its business logic through servers, but managing servers requires a lot of time and effort.

Teams must maintain server hardware, keep software and security upgrades up to date, and generate backups in the event of a breakdown.

Developers can outsource these tasks to a third-party supplier by using serverless architecture, allowing them to focus on building application code.

Function as a Service (FaaS) is a serverless architecture in which developers compose their application code as a set of discrete functions.

When triggered by an event, such as an incoming email or an HTTP request, each function will do a certain action.

Developers then deploy their functions, along with their triggers, to a cloud provider account after going through the standard steps of testing.

When a function is called, the cloud provider either executes it on an existing server or spins up a new server to perform the function.

Developers can focus on building and deploying application code while this execution process is abstracted away from them.

Most serverless providers offer database and storage capabilities to their users, and many, like Cloudflare Workers, also have Function-as-a-Service (FaaS) platforms.

With FaaS, developers can run small pieces of code on the network edge.

Developers can create a modular architecture with FaaS, resulting in a more scalable codebase without having to invest resources in maintaining the underlying backend.

While serverless architecture has existed for more than a decade, Amazon launched AWS Lambda in 2014 as the first popular FaaS platform.

Most developers still use AWS Lambda to build serverless apps.

However, Google and Microsoft both have their own FaaS services, Google Cloud Functions (GCF) and Azure Functions, respectively.

Read: Cloud Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide for Businesses

Benefits of Serverless Architecture

It is easy to deploy

For your application, a serverless method could be ideal.

If you need to get an app up and running quickly, serverless might be the way to go.

You may now deploy an app in hours or days rather than weeks or months.

The reason for this is that you will not have to worry about infrastructure.

You can concentrate on the code and release it right away.

You don’t have to worry about provisioning because scalability is automatic.

More Time For UX

Customers don’t care about infrastructure, so keep that in mind if your app caters to them.

They don’t have access to all of the back-end code you’ve built.

The front-end code will be the only thing they notice.

They place a higher value on the user interface and experience.

So, instead of focusing on features that consumers do not care about, why not allocate resources to elements that keep customers happy?

As you can get infrastructure taken care of easily with serverless architecture, you can focus more on your frontend and user experience.

Better scalability

If you want to be the next Google, you should consider whether your server can handle such a demand.

Moreover, if you use a serverless design, you can roll with the punches.

If your app succeeds and expands, it will be simple to make changes to meet the expansion.

If that’s not the case, there’s no harm done!

Building infrastructure is no use if you don’t know if it’ll be used.

That’s a significant advantage.

Low cost

Going serverless is a fantastic way to save money.

That’s because you’re contracting out the management of servers, databases, and some logic.

Aside from the financial savings, serverless computing requires less processing power and human resources.

There’s no reason why you should have to design your own server from the ground up.

You can concentrate on the server-side code that counts because serverless takes care of the infrastructure.

There are some instances where the cost isn’t that much lower, but it depends on your use case.

It is more efficient

You pay per request in a serverless architecture.

Additionally, you’d maintain a typical server running at all times if you had one.

You’re only charged when the server is used with a serverless architecture.

As a result, there is less trash produced. It’s also more efficient because scaling is no longer a concern.

You don’t have to worry about infrastructure, setup, capacity planning, or DevOps anymore.

Improved flexibility

It’s easier to get started with serverless development than it is with traditional methods.

As a result, being serverless allows you to innovate more quickly.

You can go on to the next project when you can see quick practical results.

You can now begin developing your next feature or microservice.

When limits do not restrict you, the serverless design gives this benefit.

In circumstances where you need to restructure, pivoting is also easier.

Read: The Impact of Cloud Computing on IT Jobs and Skills

Serverless Architecture Does Have Limitations

The serverless design isn’t without flaws.

It’s still a developing architecture, so some people are hesitant to accept it.

• Long-running application inefficiencies. Long-running workloads could be more expensive to execute on serverless. It is often more efficient to use a dedicated server.
  
  
• Third-party dependency. You must rely on your supplier if you use a serverless architecture. You don’t have complete control, and changes may have an unanticipated impact on you. The platform’s accessibility is constrained by its terms.
  
  
• Cold starts. When a platform must activate internal resources, it is referred to as a “cold start.” It’s possible that your serverless architecture will take some time to respond to your first function request. You can avoid a “cold start” by making sure the function is still activated. You do this by giving it requests on a regular basis.

Read: How Cloud Computing is Transforming Businesses and Remote Work

Conclusion

In conclusion, serverless architecture offers a transformative approach to application development, enabling faster deployment, enhanced scalability, and reduced costs.

By outsourcing infrastructure management, developers can focus on what truly matters—delivering an exceptional user experience.

While there are challenges, such as potential inefficiencies with long-running applications and dependency on third-party services, the benefits often outweigh the drawbacks.

As serverless architecture continues to evolve, it provides an efficient and flexible solution for modern businesses looking to innovate quickly and scale seamlessly.

Before You Go…

Hey, thank you for reading this blog post to the end. I hope it was helpful. Let me tell you a little bit about Nicholas Idoko Technologies.

We help businesses and companies build an online presence by developing web, mobile, desktop, and blockchain applications.

We also help aspiring software developers and programmers learn the skills they need to have a successful career.

Take your first step to becoming a programming expert by joining our Learn To Code academy today!

Be sure to contact us if you need more information or have any questions! We are readily available.