Getting Started with AWS Lambda
Learn to navigate the AWS Management Console, set up necessary IAM permissions, and understand the basic components of a Lambda function.
Getting Started with AWS Lambda is a free Serverless AWS Lambda Development lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 2 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Serverless AWS Lambda Development learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
Welcome to AWS Lambda!
Time for AWS Lambda, the serverless compute service that runs your code without any servers. You will find it in the console and learn its building blocks.
Finding Lambda in the Console
The AWS Management Console is your web interface for AWS. Search "Lambda" in the top bar and open it to reach the service dashboard.
Permissions: Why Lambda Needs Them
Your Lambda function is a tiny worker that needs permission to do anything useful. AWS controls this with IAM, granting your function an IAM role.
Understanding IAM Roles
An IAM Role is a permission set you assign to your function — a job description. Its trust policy says who can use it; its permissions policy says what it can do.
Creating a Lambda Execution Role
Every Lambda gets an execution role. The most basic one attaches AWSLambdaBasicExecutionRole so your function can write logs to CloudWatch.
Anatomy of a Lambda Function
A Lambda function is your code plus a few settings: a Runtime (the language), a Handler (the entry method), plus Memory and Timeout.
Runtime: Your Code's Engine
The Runtime tells Lambda which language environment to spin up when an event fires. Write in Java, pick a Java runtime like Java 17.
The Handler: Your Code's Entry Point
The Handler is the exact method Lambda invokes when your function is triggered — your logic's starting line. Here, Lambda calls handleRequest.
package com.example;
import com.amazonaws.services.lambda.runtime.Context;
import com.amazonaws.services.lambda.runtime.RequestHandler;
// This class represents your Lambda function
public class MyFirstLambda implements RequestHandler<String, String> {
// The 'handleRequest' method is your function's entry point
@Override
public String handleRequest(String input, Context context) {
// Lambda's logger for output
context.getLogger().log("Received input: " + input);
String output = "Hello from Lambda, " + input + "!";
return output;
}
}Memory & Timeout Settings
Two settings shape speed and cost: Memory (more memory means more CPU and bandwidth) and Timeout (the max seconds before Lambda stops the run).
Quick Check!
Let's test your understanding of Lambda's foundational concepts.
Recap & Next Steps
Nice work! You found Lambda in the console and met IAM roles, runtime, handler, memory, and timeout. Next: deploy a real Hello World function.
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Getting Started with AWS Lambda” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Getting Started with AWS Lambda” is free to read here on the web, and the Serverless AWS Lambda Development course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Serverless AWS Lambda Development course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Getting Started with AWS Lambda”?
Learn to navigate the AWS Management Console, set up necessary IAM permissions, and understand the basic components of a Lambda function. You practise Serverless AWS Lambda Development with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start Serverless AWS Lambda Development?
No prior experience is required. Serverless AWS Lambda Development on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 2 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Getting Started with AWS Lambda” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this Serverless AWS Lambda Development lesson?
Yes. Every Serverless AWS Lambda Development lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- What is Serverless Computing?
- Getting Started with AWS Lambda
- Your First Lambda Function
- Serverless Pricing & the Free Tier