What is Azure Function?

Azure Function is hosted on Microsoft Azure and is a serverless computing tool. Developers utilize it to not manage servers but still execute code. Various events will trigger code-running, which is why it’s used by event-driven apps. 

Azure Functions has multiple languages and is used for file uploads, web APIs, data stream processing, and other functions based on triggers/binding.

You’ll find Azure Functions within the Azure serverless ecosystem. Integrate it with Event Grid, Logic Apps, and Service to scale cloud apps up or down.

You should use Azure Functions for task scalability based on triggers and events. The tool might be suitable if infrastructure management isn’t your priority, but running code is still necessary. 

Azure Functions is used by solo developers and larger organizations. Events you may need to use the tool within include date changes, timer triggers, and HTTP requests. 

You might also use Azure Functions for system integration/workflow automation. Other use cases are data processing and API-building. Some common scenarios in which you would use Azure Functions are: 

• Sending emails/notifications and other forms of task automation 
• Serverless API and microservice building 
• Integration with Azure Storage, Logic Apps, and similar tools 
• Data processing from sensors/IoT devices

You can use four hosting functions within Azure Functions: Consumption, Premium, and Dedicates Plans, and the Kubernetes Event-Driven Autoscaler (KEDA) if you need Kubernetes-based hosting. 

Pricing and features vary depending on each plan, meaning you’ll need to consider your expected workload. Think about your requirements for scalability and connectivity before making a choice. Performance, costs, and capabilities must also be analyzed.

Serverless architecture scales workloads based on demand, meaning developers can focus on coding; however, you might need to alter the rules intermittently if your needs change.

You can use Azure Functions with JavaScript, Python, and other programming languages. You can use Azure Functions with other Azure services, but external ones may be utilized instead. Developers use Azure Functions for functions based on various event triggers/data bindings. 

You should also use Azure Functions for testing and deployment while controlling access management via easy-auth. Developers may use Azure Functions on clouds in hybrid environments; you can also think about the pay-per-use pricing.

Durable Functions is an Azure Functions extension. Developers use it to create serverless stateful functions. You should use Durable Functions if you have long-running workflows that are more complex and may need checkpoints or automatic restarts. State management should also be considered when using Durable Functions. 

Use the Durable Functions’ programming model for stateful workflows/managing orchestrations. Coordinating multiple functions is also something you may need to consider. Use Durable Functions for:

• Approval processes
• Periodic data processing
• Human interaction workflows

Developers can use Azure Functions with PowerShell, Python, Java, TypeScript, C#, JavaScript, and other programming languages. Fully supported and experimental are the two levels you can use.

While fully supported languages have native support that enables you to develop/run functions solely in one language, experimental is more limited and should be used for testing/exploration.