> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://notes.kodekloud.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# AWS Lambda Basics
> Learn how AWS Lambda enables code execution without server management, ideal for event-driven architectures with automatic scaling and pay-per-use pricing.
In this lesson, you’ll learn how AWS Lambda empowers you to run code without provisioning or managing servers. Ideal for event-driven architectures, Lambda automatically scales your functions and charges you only for actual compute time.
## What Is AWS Lambda?
Imagine a clever inventor who wrote a program to spark fire by rubbing sticks together. In the old world, he’d wait days for a server to be built, provisioned, and maintained—delaying his warmth and dinner. AWS Lambda changes that:
* You simply upload your code as a “Lambda function.”
* Lambda takes care of the infrastructure, scaling from zero to thousands of concurrent executions.
* You pay **only** for the milliseconds your code runs.
AWS Lambda is a Functions-as-a-Service (FaaS) offering. It abstracts away servers, operating systems, and scaling concerns so you can focus entirely on your application logic.
## Key Benefits of AWS Lambda
| Feature | Description |
| -------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Serverless Management | No servers to provision, patch, or maintain |
| Automatic Scaling | Instantly scales based on incoming requests |
| Pay-per-Use Pricing | Billed in 100 ms increments for only the compute time you consume |
| Built-in High Availability | Fault-tolerant across multiple Availability Zones |
| Integrated Security | IAM-based permissions and VPC integrations out of the box |
## Supported Languages and Runtimes
AWS Lambda natively supports these runtimes:
| Runtime | Common Use Cases |
| -------------------------- | ------------------------------------ |
| Node.js (12.x, 14.x, 16.x) | APIs, microservices |
| Python (3.7, 3.8, 3.9) | Data processing, machine learning |
| Java (8, 11) | Enterprise applications |
| C# (.NET Core 3.1, .NET 5) | Windows workflows, back-end services |
| Go (1.x) | High-performance microservices |
| Ruby (2.7) | Web applications |
| PowerShell (6.x) | Automation and scripting |
If you need a different language or version, use the [Lambda Runtime API](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/lambda/latest/dg/runtimes-custom.html) to bring your own runtime. AWS even demonstrates running legacy COBOL applications on Lambda via custom runtimes.
Lambda functions can experience **cold starts**, especially in VPCs or when using large deployment packages. Design for stateless, short-duration handlers to minimize latency.
## About This Course
In this hands-on module, we will:
1. Create and configure a **Node.js** Lambda function.
2. Set up a **Jenkins** pipeline to deploy and invoke the Lambda.
3. Monitor performance using **CloudWatch** logs and metrics.
If you’d like to deepen your Lambda expertise, check out [Matthew’s AWS Lambda course on KodeKloud](https://kodekloud.com/courses/aws-lambda).
## Further Reading
* [AWS Lambda Developer Guide](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/lambda/latest/dg/welcome.html)
* [Serverless Framework](https://www.serverless.com/)
* [AWS Well-Architected Serverless Lens](https://aws.amazon.com/architecture/well-architected/?wa-lens-whitepapers-sort-by=item.additionalFields.sortDate\&wa-lens-whitepapers-sort-order=desc\&serverless-lens)
Thank you for learning AWS Lambda with us!