Azure Functions
Azure Functions is a serverless compute service on Microsoft Azure that allows developers to run event-driven code without managing infrastructure. It enables building and deploying small pieces of code (functions) that automatically scale and execute in response to triggers like HTTP requests, timers, or messages from other Azure services. This pay-per-use model helps reduce operational overhead and costs for applications with variable workloads.
Developers should use Azure Functions for building microservices, processing data in real-time, automating tasks, and integrating systems through event-driven architectures. It's ideal for scenarios like processing IoT data streams, handling webhooks, running scheduled jobs, or creating lightweight APIs, as it eliminates server management and scales automatically based on demand. This makes it cost-effective for sporadic or unpredictable workloads compared to traditional server-based solutions.