Discover common Lambda errors and their troubleshooting steps with this easy quiz. Learn to recognize frequent issues, diagnose failures, and apply solutions effectively within serverless computing environments.
If your Lambda function consistently stops running after a short period, even though the logic is correct, which error is most likely occurring?
Explanation: A TimeoutError occurs when a function runs longer than its allowed execution duration. SyntaxError relates to issues in code structure, which would prevent code execution, not stop it mid-run. NullPointerError refers to accessing objects through null references, and StackOverflowError is about excessive recursion, not about execution time limits. Only TimeoutError matches the described scenario.
A Lambda function fails to access an external database and returns a permissions error, even though the function's logic is correct. What is the likely cause?
Explanation: If the function lacks permissions, the cause is an IAM Role Misconfiguration, which governs what resources the function can access. ExceededMemoryLimit would cause out-of-memory errors, not access issues. Event Loop Freeze involves infinite loops or asynchronous operations, and Incorrect Syntax would stop the function from running. Only IAM Role Misconfiguration matches the issue.
Your Lambda function throws an error stating 'Process exited before completing request' during large file processing. What common misconfiguration might cause this?
Explanation: Insufficient Memory Allocation can cause Lambda to terminate early when processing large files. Typos in environment variables can lead to misconfigured settings but not memory issues. An Outdated SDK Version affects compatibility, and Malformed JSON Events cause input parsing issues. Memory allocation directly impacts the function's ability to handle large tasks.
A Lambda function immediately fails with a parsing exception when triggered by an event. Which issue is most likely occurring?
Explanation: A Malformed Input Event means the payload does not match the expected structure, leading to exceptions when parsing. Dead Letter Queue Misconfiguration deals with failure handling, not payload parsing. Low CPU Allocation may slow execution but not cause immediate parse failures, and Lambda Alias Error is unrelated to input structure. This makes Malformed Input Event the correct answer.
When deploying a Lambda function, you see 'ModuleNotFoundError: No module named x' in the logs. What caused this?
Explanation: A Missing Dependency is responsible for import errors, meaning the required package is not included with the deployment. Infinite Loop is a logic problem that would manifest as a timeout. Failed Network Connection affects only remote requests, and Case Sensitivity Error could cause issues but would show as a different error. ModuleNotFoundError directly indicates missing dependencies.
Your Lambda returns an error stating 'Handler not found' upon invocation. Which issue likely causes this?
Explanation: Specifying a wrong Handler Name in configuration leads to Lambda not finding the entry point for execution. An undeclared environment variable causes undefined values but not handler errors. Exceeded Request Throttling happens when invocation rate is too high, and Incorrect Logging Syntax would not stop handler detection. Thus, the handler configuration is the main cause.
If a Lambda function ends unexpectedly with 'Out of Memory' in the logs, which problem should you investigate?
Explanation: Low Allocated Memory can lead to out-of-memory terminations when the function exceeds the set memory. Invalid Trigger Event affects function invocation, not resource usage. Malformed Output Format causes data issues, not memory errors, and Incorrect Role Assignment leads to permissions problems. Only memory allocation directly relates to 'Out of Memory'.
A Lambda function fails to deploy and the logs show 'unexpected indent'. What type of error is this?
Explanation: An 'unexpected indent' message is a classic SyntaxError, meaning the code is not properly formatted. Permission Denied relates to access controls, Network Timeout to connection issues, and Invalid Archive Format to packaging problems. Only SyntaxError matches unexpected indentation errors.
Sometimes, a Lambda function takes longer to respond to its first invocation after deployment. What is this delay commonly called?
Explanation: Cold Start describes the latency during the first invocation when the environment is being initialized. Warm Start is for subsequent invocations, which are faster. Idle Throttle is not a standard term, and Hot Migration does not apply to Lambda start times. Cold Start is the accepted explanation for initial delay.
When a Lambda function fails multiple times to process an event, which feature can you use to capture and review failed events for later analysis?
Explanation: Dead Letter Queue (DLQ) captures failed events, enabling troubleshooting and recovery. State Machine manages workflow steps, not failures. Event Source Mapping connects events to functions but does not directly manage failures, and Socket Timeout refers to network operations. DLQ is designed for handling repeated Lambda failures.