What is Serverless?
Also called: Serverless functions, Lambda
The short answer
Serverless means running back-end code as small functions that the host starts on demand, so you pay for use and never manage a server.
Serverless, explained
Functions scale automatically and cost nothing when idle; the trade-offs are cold starts and limits on how long each run can last.
Questions people ask about Serverless
What is Serverless?
Serverless means running back-end code as small functions that the host starts on demand, so you pay for use and never manage a server.
Related terms
Edge functions are small pieces of server code that run in data centres close to each visitor, so dynamic responses arrive with minimal delay.
Back-endThe back-end is the server-side part of a site that visitors never see: databases, logins, payments, business logic and the APIs the front-end calls.
Web hostingWeb hosting is the service that stores a website's files on internet-connected servers and delivers them to visitors around the clock.
Next.jsNext.js is a React framework for building websites and web apps, adding routing, server rendering, static generation and API routes on top of React.
Part of the Web Encyclopedia by Apex Flow Digital. Definitions are general knowledge, kept current, with no invented statistics.