As we have explored so far, Microservices offer a great alternative architecture with which we can approach the application development scenario. With the advantages of having faster release cycles, easy-to-launch new features and high scalability, the Microservices are a compelling choice for developers. But all of these Microservices still run in a server-based environment.

Running in a server-based environment is useful in terms of the response times of the applications because there is always a service that is ready to accept an incoming request. But there is one disadvantage: If there are no users, the applications keep on consuming system resources.

Recently, application developers have started to make a move toward a new approach of application development. This approach of development focuses on the applications being event-driven and launches an action based on the occurrence of some event. These kinds of applications are known as serverless applications because they do not keep on running when there is no user and an instance of them launches only when there has been some event that has occurred.

As we move through this chapter, we will take a look at this serverless approach of application development and how it is changing the development scenario.

As a reader of this chapter, you will get to learn about the following:

• The serverless approach to application development
• The process that powers the serverless architecture
• Building a serverless application
• Benefits of the serverless approach