Explore key AWS Lambda concepts with these interview-style questions designed to enhance your understanding of serverless computing, triggers, event sources, resource limits, use cases, and basic configuration. This quiz is ideal for those preparing for AWS Lambda interviews or looking to solidify foundational knowledge of this event-driven service.
Which type of event source can directly trigger the execution of a Lambda function?
Explanation: An object uploaded to a cloud storage bucket can directly trigger a Lambda function by acting as an event source. Spreadsheet updates on a local device and desktop application shortcuts do not interact with the event-driven service and cannot serve as triggers. Manually starting a physical server is unrelated to the event-based execution model of Lambda.
What is the maximum timeout duration you can specify for an individual Lambda function execution?
Explanation: The maximum timeout for a Lambda function execution is 15 minutes, ensuring short-lived, event-driven processing. While 1 hour and 24 hours suggest longer limits, they exceed the actual restriction and are incorrect. 45 seconds is possible, but it is not the maximum allowed; thus, 15 minutes is the correct answer.
Which of the following programming languages is supported natively in AWS Lambda for authoring functions?
Explanation: Python is natively supported for writing Lambda functions, offering simplicity and fast execution. C++ and Cobol are not natively supported, requiring custom runtimes for execution. Pascal is not supported at all, making Python the most appropriate option.
Which scenario best illustrates a suitable use case for Lambda?
Explanation: Lambda is designed for short-lived, event-driven tasks like image processing upon upload. Persistent databases and continuous video streaming require long-running resources, which are ill-suited to Lambda's execution model. Hosting a static website is possible elsewhere but is not a core Lambda function use case.
What is referred to as a 'cold start' in Lambda environments?
Explanation: A cold start occurs when a new Lambda instance is initialized to handle a request, increasing startup latency. Timezone and unauthorized events do not describe startup delays. Memory exhaustion leads to function termination, not a cold start.
How does increasing the memory allocation for a Lambda function typically impact its execution?
Explanation: Increasing the memory allocation also provides more CPU, which may improve execution speed for compute-intensive tasks. It does not change the maximum allowed execution time, does not disable error logging, and does not automatically impact concurrency limits.
Why might you use environment variables in a Lambda function configuration?
Explanation: Environment variables in Lambda allow you to securely manage sensitive settings such as API keys and endpoints without hardcoding them. Increasing logging requires separate configuration and is not accomplished with environment variables. Maximum duration and deployment processes are unaffected by using environment variables.
Why does a Lambda function require an IAM role to execute certain tasks?
Explanation: Assigning an IAM role provides the necessary permissions for Lambda to securely interact with other cloud services. Billing costs and concurrency limits are managed separately and not controlled by the IAM role. Changing programming languages is unrelated to IAM roles.
Which feature is commonly used to monitor Lambda function execution and capture logs?
Explanation: A cloud-based log monitoring service is commonly integrated with Lambda to capture execution logs and monitor function behavior. Offline backup drives, screen recorders, and hardware sensors do not capture or manage logs generated during Lambda execution.
What does the term 'concurrent executions' refer to in the context of Lambda?
Explanation: Concurrent executions refer to the number of Lambda instances running simultaneously, which affects scalability and limits. The total invocation count refers to all historical runs, not concurrent ones. Code editing frequency and multi-language use are unrelated to this operational concept.