AWS Lambda serverless functions for event-driven compute. Use when creating functions, configuring triggers, debugging invocations, optimizing cold starts, setting up event source mappings, or managing layers.
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AWS Lambda runs code without provisioning servers. You pay only for compute time consumed. Lambda automatically scales from a few requests per day to thousands per second.
Your code packaged with configuration. Includes runtime, handler, memory, timeout, and IAM role.
| Type | Description | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Synchronous | Caller waits for response | API Gateway, direct invoke |
| Asynchronous | Fire and forget | S3, SNS, EventBridge |
| Poll-based | Lambda polls source |
| SQS, Kinesis, DynamoDB Streams |
Lambda creates execution environments to run your function. Components:
Reusable packages of libraries, dependencies, or custom runtimes (up to 5 per function).
AWS CLI:
# Create deployment package
zip function.zip lambda_function.py
# Create function
aws lambda create-function \
--function-name MyFunction \
--runtime python3.12 \
--role arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/lambda-role \
--handler lambda_function.handler \
--zip-file fileb://function.zip \
--timeout 30 \
--memory-size 256
# Update function code
aws lambda update-function-code \
--function-name MyFunction \
--zip-file fileb://function.zip
boto3:
import boto3
import zipfile
import io
lambda_client = boto3.client('lambda')
# Create zip in memory
zip_buffer = io.BytesIO()
with zipfile.ZipFile(zip_buffer, 'w') as zf:
zf.writestr('lambda_function.py', '''
def handler(event, context):
return {"statusCode": 200, "body": "Hello"}
''')
zip_buffer.seek(0)
# Create function
lambda_client.create_function(
FunctionName='MyFunction',
Runtime='python3.12',
Role='arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/lambda-role',
Handler='lambda_function.handler',
Code={'ZipFile': zip_buffer.read()},
Timeout=30,
MemorySize=256
)
# Add permission for S3 to invoke Lambda
aws lambda add-permission \
--function-name MyFunction \
--statement-id s3-trigger \
--action lambda:InvokeFunction \
--principal s3.amazonaws.com \
--source-arn arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket \
--source-account 123456789012
# Configure S3 notification (see S3 skill)
aws lambda create-event-source-mapping \
--function-name MyFunction \
--event-source-arn arn:aws:sqs:us-east-1:123456789012:my-queue \
--batch-size 10 \
--maximum-batching-window-in-seconds 5
aws lambda update-function-configuration \
--function-name MyFunction \
--environment "Variables={DB_HOST=mydb.cluster-xyz.us-east-1.rds.amazonaws.com,LOG_LEVEL=INFO}"
# Create layer
zip -r layer.zip python/
aws lambda publish-layer-version \
--layer-name my-dependencies \
--compatible-runtimes python3.12 \
--zip-file fileb://layer.zip
# Attach to function
aws lambda update-function-configuration \
--function-name MyFunction \
--layers arn:aws:lambda:us-east-1:123456789012:layer:my-dependencies:1
# Synchronous invoke
aws lambda invoke \
--function-name MyFunction \
--payload '{"key": "value"}' \
response.json
# Asynchronous invoke
aws lambda invoke \
--function-name MyFunction \
--invocation-type Event \
--payload '{"key": "value"}' \
response.json
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
aws lambda create-function | Create new function |
aws lambda update-function-code | Update function code |
aws lambda update-function-configuration | Update settings |
aws lambda delete-function | Delete function |
aws lambda list-functions | List all functions |
aws lambda get-function | Get function details |
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
aws lambda invoke | Invoke function |
aws lambda invoke-async | Async invoke (deprecated) |
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
aws lambda create-event-source-mapping | Add event source |
aws lambda list-event-source-mappings | List mappings |
aws lambda update-event-source-mapping | Update mapping |
aws lambda delete-event-source-mapping | Remove mapping |
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
aws lambda add-permission | Add resource-based policy |
aws lambda remove-permission | Remove permission |
aws lambda get-policy | View resource policy |
# GOOD: Initialize outside handler
import boto3
dynamodb = boto3.resource('dynamodb')
table = dynamodb.Table('MyTable')
def handler(event, context):
# Reuses existing connection
return table.get_item(Key={'id': event['id']})
Symptom: Task timed out after X seconds
Causes:
Debug:
# Check function configuration
aws lambda get-function-configuration \
--function-name MyFunction \
--query "Timeout"
# Increase timeout
aws lambda update-function-configuration \
--function-name MyFunction \
--timeout 60
Symptom: Function crashes with memory error
Fix:
aws lambda update-function-configuration \
--function-name MyFunction \
--memory-size 512
Causes:
Solutions:
# Enable Provisioned Concurrency
aws lambda put-provisioned-concurrency-config \
--function-name MyFunction \
--qualifier LIVE \
--provisioned-concurrent-executions 5
Symptom: AccessDeniedException
Debug:
# Check execution role
aws lambda get-function-configuration \
--function-name MyFunction \
--query "Role"
# Check role policies
aws iam list-attached-role-policies \
--role-name lambda-role
Symptom: Cannot reach internet or AWS services
Causes:
Solutions:
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