AWS Bites

74. Function URLs vs API Gateway


Listen Later

How can you use a Lambda to respond to an HTTP request? There are more ways than ever to do it. We have API Gateway REST APIs, Lambda support for Application Load Balancer, and now Function URLs. But which one should you use, and when?

In this episode of AWS Bites podcast, we will give you a quick and simple guide to picking the best way to build APIs with Lambda. In this video, we're going to pitch Function URLs against API Gateway in a battle for the ages!
Function URLs offer a simple and quick way to get a public URL to invoke a Lambda function, with fewer configuration options and cheaper pricing. They are suitable for private webhooks, simple backend functions, and machine learning inference backend. However, they lack authorization and DDoS protection, making them unsuitable for public webhooks. On the other hand, API Gateway offers more features and control, making it suitable for public APIs. API Gateway comes in two flavors: REST and HTTP with some subtle differences.
Finally, we will also cover Application Load balancer and explore when and why it can be a convenient alternative to both Function URLs and API Gateway.


💰 SPONSORS 💰

AWS Bites is sponsored by ⁠⁠fourTheorem⁠⁠, an AWS Consulting Partner offering training, cloud migration, and modern application architecture.


In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

  • Article by AJ Stuyvenberg reporting that Function URLs have a latency of 8.35ms
  • GitHub repository with all the material we used in our evaluation

  • You can listen to AWS Bites wherever you get your podcasts:

    • Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aws-bites/id1585489017⁠⁠
    • Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3Lh7PzqBFV6yt5WsTAmO5q⁠⁠
    • Google: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy82YTMzMTJhMC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==⁠⁠
    • Breaker:⁠⁠ https://www.breaker.audio/aws-bites⁠⁠
    • RSS:  ⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/s/6a3312a0/podcast/rss
    • ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store

      AWS BitesBy AWS Bites

      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6

      4.6

      11 ratings


      More shows like AWS Bites

      View all
      Hanselminutes with Scott Hanselman by Scott Hanselman

      Hanselminutes with Scott Hanselman

      383 Listeners

      The a16z Show by Andreessen Horowitz

      The a16z Show

      1,087 Listeners

      Software Engineering Daily by Software Engineering Daily

      Software Engineering Daily

      626 Listeners

      Risky Business by Patrick Gray

      Risky Business

      374 Listeners

      The Cloudcast by Massive Studios

      The Cloudcast

      153 Listeners

      Python Bytes by Michael Kennedy and Brian Okken

      Python Bytes

      214 Listeners

      Y Combinator Startup Podcast by Y Combinator

      Y Combinator Startup Podcast

      226 Listeners

      Syntax - Tasty Web Development Treats by Wes Bos & Scott Tolinski - Full Stack JavaScript Web Developers

      Syntax - Tasty Web Development Treats

      988 Listeners

      Cybersecurity Today by Jim Love

      Cybersecurity Today

      181 Listeners

      Kubernetes Podcast from Google by Abdel Sghiouar, Kaslin Fields

      Kubernetes Podcast from Google

      182 Listeners

      Practical AI by Practical AI LLC

      Practical AI

      211 Listeners

      AWS Podcast by Amazon Web Services

      AWS Podcast

      202 Listeners

      AWS Morning Brief by Corey Quinn

      AWS Morning Brief

      79 Listeners

      The Real Python Podcast by Real Python

      The Real Python Podcast

      142 Listeners

      The AWS Developers Podcast by Amazon Web Services

      The AWS Developers Podcast

      25 Listeners