Server-Side APIs vs Serverless Functions

Developers should learn Server-Side APIs to build modern applications where the frontend (e meets developers should use serverless functions for building scalable, cost-effective applications with variable workloads, such as apis, data processing, and real-time file transformations. Here's our take.

Server-Side APIs

Nice Pick

Developers should learn Server-Side APIs to build modern applications where the frontend (e

Pros

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• Related to: rest-api, graphql

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Serverless Functions

Developers should use serverless functions for building scalable, cost-effective applications with variable workloads, such as APIs, data processing, and real-time file transformations

Pros

• They are ideal for microservices, IoT backends, and automation tasks where operational overhead needs minimization, enabling rapid deployment and reduced time-to-market
• Related to: aws-lambda, azure-functions

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Server-Side APIs is a concept while Serverless Functions is a platform. We picked Server-Side APIs based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Server-Side APIs wins

Based on overall popularity. Server-Side APIs is more widely used, but Serverless Functions excels in its own space.