What are 'serverless functions' in cloud computing?

Serverless functions in cloud computing refer to executable units of code that run in response to events without the need for developers to manage the underlying server infrastructure. This model abstracts the server management away from the user, allowing for a focus on writing and deploying code.

In the serverless architecture, resources are dynamically allocated to handle the requests as they come, and users are only billed for the actual execution time of their functions rather than for pre-allocated resources. This leads to greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness, as developers do not need to provide and allocate fixed computing resources, which can often lead to underutilization.

The flexibility offered by serverless functions also supports event-driven programming models, where the functions can be triggered by various events such as API calls, file uploads, or database changes. This means that developers can build scalable applications without having to worry about the specifics of the hosting environment or server setup.

The other options describe concepts that do not align with the characteristics of serverless functions. For example, serverless functions do not involve dedicated server management, which goes against the very premise of what serverless computing is designed to eliminate. Similarly, while some functions may interface with data storage, that is not their primary defining characteristic. Lastly, reserving