Function as a Service (FaaS)

Function as a Service (FaaS) is a cloud computing service model that runs individual functions or tasks as a part of a larger application. It provides a platform for developers to build, deploy, and manage code for running functions, without having to manage the necessary underlying compute resources themselves.

Unlike Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), FaaS does not require users to provision or manage any underlying infrastructure or operating system. Instead, it provides users a scalable platform onto which functions can be uploaded, processed and executed for a fee. This enables developers to focus on building the code and logic for their function, leaving the task of managing the underlying compute resources to the cloud provider.

A major advantage of FaaS is its scalability; instead of having to manually scale compute resources as usage increases or decreases, the cloud provider can dynamically scale computing resources based on required user demand. Additionally, since the function runs only when triggered, the cloud provider can shut down resources when the function is inactive, allowing further cost savings.

Function as a Service can be used for a variety of tasks, from tasks that occur only periodically (e.g. serverless backup) to more complex tasks such as web hooks or complex APIs. It can also be used to facilitate serverless data processing, stream processing, and ML/AI-based services.

In applying FaaS, users are not responsible for maintaining and managing the operating system, virtual machines, and other resources. This allows users to focus their efforts on developing code, without the need to manage any infrastructure, making it an attractive model for those looking to develop modern applications quickly.

Overall, FaaS is a cloud computing service model that allows users to deploy and manage functions in the cloud more flexibly and cost-effectively than traditional models, such as IaaS and PaaS. As such, FaaS is fast becoming the go-to model for modern cloud computing applications.