Serverless Computing

What is Serverless Computing?

Serverless computing refers to offering back-end services on a per-user basis. Users can build and deploy code without worrying about the underlying infrastructure using a serverless provider. Because the service is auto-scaling, a firm that uses backend services from a serverless vendor is charged based on their calculations and does not have to reserve and pay for a fixed amount of bandwidth or number of servers. Physical servers are still used, despite the moniker serverless, although developers do not need to be aware of them (se3rverless computing).

Anyone who wanted to construct a web application in the early days of the web 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 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. Cloud suppliers have provided auto-scaling models to alleviate the problem, but an unwanted spike in activity such as a DDoS assault might be extremely costly even with auto-scaling.

Developers can buy backend services on a flexible "pay-as-you-go" basis with serverless computing, which means they only pay for what they need. It's the equivalent of moving from a monthly fixed-limit cell phone data plan to one that only charges for the data that is consumed. Although servers deliver these back-end services, the term 'serverless' is misleading because the vendor handles all server space and infrastructure problems. Serverless means that developers don't have to bother about servers when working on their projects. 

What are backend services?

The difference ba serverless provider’s underlying infrastructure are the two main areas of application development. The frontend, or the component of the application that users see and interact with, is an example of the visual layout. The server that holds the application's files and the database that contains user data and business logic make up the backend, which the user does not see.

For example (Serverless computing examples), a website sells concert tickets. When a user types a website address into the browser’s address bar, the browser sends a request to the backend server, answering the website data. The user will next see the website's frontend, including text, photos, and form fields for the user to complete. The user can then search for their favorite musical act by interacting with one of the form fields on the website. When the user presses the 'submit' button, another request to the backend is sent. The back-end system checks its database to see if a performer with this name exists and when and how many tickets are available for their next performance. The data will then be sent from the backend to the frontend, which will display the results in a user-friendly manner. A similar back-and-forth communication between the frontend and backend occurs when a user registers an account and inputs financial information to purchase tickets.

What kind of backend services can serverless computing provide?

The majority of serverless companies provide database and storage services to their customers, and several, such as Cloudflare Workers, also offer FaaS platforms. FaaS allows developers to run small amounts of code on the network edge. Developers can create a modular architecture with FaaS, resulting in a more scalable codebase without investing resources in maintaining the underlying backend. 

What are the advantages of serverless computing?

• Why Lower prices - Traditional cloud backend services (server allocation) usually charge users for unused space or CPU time. Therefore serverless computing is generally quite cost-effective.

• Scalability is simplified - Developers that use serverless architecture don't have to worry about scaling issues. The serverless provider handles all on-demand scaling.

• Simplified backend code - FaaS allows developers to create simple functions that each perform a particular purpose, such as calling an API.

• Faster time to market - Serverless architecture can drastically reduce time to market. Developers can add and alter code on a piecemeal basis rather than relying on a cumbersome deployment process to push out bug patches and new features. 

How does serverless compare to other cloud backend models?

Backend-as-a-Service and Platform-as-a-Service are two terms that are frequently interchanged while discussing serverless computing. These models, despite their similarities, may not always fit the serverless requirements (serverless cloud).

Backend-as-a-service (BaaS) is a service model in which a cloud provider provides backend functions such as data storage, allowing developers to concentrate on building front-end code. However, while serverless apps are event-driven and run on the edge, BaaS applications may not fit both of these criteria.

Platform-as-a-service (PaaS) is a concept in which developers rent all of the tools they need to develop and deploy applications from a cloud provider, including operating systems and middleware. On the other hand, PaaS apps are more difficult to scale than serverless apps. PaaS applications don't always run on the edge, and they frequently have a visible startup delay that serverless applications don't have.