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Getting Started with Serverless: Understand Key Reasons for Developers Concurrency Limits in Serverless Functions

Learn why setting concurrency limits on serverless functions is essential for developers. Discover the top three reasons including managing costs, matching downstream resources, and regulating processing time.

Table of Contents

Question

Which of the following are reasons a developer would set a concurrency limit (or reserve) on a function? (Select THREE.)

A. To limit the memory that is used
B. To help CloudWatch track logging events
C. To match the limit with a downstream resource
D. To regulate how long it takes to process a batch of events
E. To manage costs

Answer

C. To match the limit with a downstream resource
D. To regulate how long it takes to process a batch of events
E. To manage costs

Explanation

Managing costs, regulating how long it takes you to process a batch of events, and matching with a downstream resource are all reasons for setting a concurrency reserve for a function. You might try to limit the number of concurrent invocations to ensure that your function can scale up to a reserved level regardless of other functions that might be running.

To match the limit with a downstream resource (C):

Reason: When a serverless function interacts with downstream resources such as databases or third-party APIs, these resources often have their own concurrency limits. Setting a concurrency limit on the function helps prevent overloading these resources, ensuring that they operate within their capacity and do not experience performance degradation or outages.

To regulate how long it takes to process a batch of events (D):

Reason: By controlling the concurrency of a function, developers can manage the flow of events being processed. This is particularly useful in scenarios involving event streams where the processing time needs to be regulated to meet specific performance criteria or service-level agreements (SLAs). It helps in maintaining a predictable processing time for batches of events.

To manage costs (E):

Reason: Serverless platforms typically charge based on the number of function invocations and the resources consumed (e.g., memory and execution time). Setting a concurrency limit helps in controlling the number of simultaneous executions, thereby capping the potential cost. It ensures that the expenses do not exceed the budget, especially in cases of unexpected spikes in function invocations.

Incorrect Options:

To limit the memory that is used (A):

Explanation: Concurrency limits do not directly control memory usage. Memory limits for a function are set independently of concurrency settings. Concurrency limits focus on the number of simultaneous executions rather than the memory allocation per execution.

To help CloudWatch track logging events (B):

Explanation: Concurrency limits do not directly influence CloudWatch logging. CloudWatch can track and log events regardless of the concurrency settings. The purpose of concurrency limits is more about controlling execution flow and resource utilization rather than affecting logging mechanisms.
By understanding and applying these reasons, developers can effectively manage serverless function performance, ensure resource compatibility, and control operational costs.

Getting Started with Serverless EDSELEv1EN-US assessment question and answer (Q&A) dump with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the Getting Started with Serverless EDSELEv1EN-US assessment and earn Getting Started with Serverless EDSELEv1EN-US badge.