Serverless

Serverless computing is a cloud computing execution model in which the cloud provider allocates resources on demand, taking care of the servers on behalf of their customers. According to ISO/IEC 22123-2: "Serverless computing is a cloud service category in which the customer can use different cloud capabilities types without the customer having to provision, deploy and manage either hardware or software resources, other than providing customer application code or providing customer data. Serverless computing represents a form of virtualized computing." Function as a service and serverless database are two forms of serverless computing.

Serverless is a misnomer in the sense that servers are still used by cloud service providers to execute code for developers. The definition of serverless computing has evolved over time, leading to varied interpretations. According to Ben Kehoe, serverless represents a spectrum rather than a rigid definition. Emphasis should shift from strict definitions and specific technologies to adopting a serverless mindset, focusing on leveraging serverless solutions to address business challenges.

Serverless computing can simplify the process of deploying code into production. According to Gregor Hohpe, using serverless does not entirely remove the complexity, but mainly shifts it from the operations team to development team. And the more fine grained the application, the harder it is to manage it.

Serverless code can be used in conjunction with code deployed in traditional styles, such as microservices or monoliths. Alternatively, applications can be written to be purely serverless and use no provisioned servers at all. This should not be confused with computing or networking models that do not require an actual server to function, such as peer-to-peer (P2P).

According to Yan Cui, serverless should be adopted only when it helps to deliver customer value faster. And while adopting, organizations should take small steps and de-risk along the way.