Deploying Lambda functions as .zip file archives - AWS Lambda
Creating the functionUsing the console code editorUpdating function codeChanging the runtimeChanging the architectureUsing the Lambda APIAWS CloudFormation

Deploying Lambda functions as .zip file archives

When you create a Lambda function, you package your function code into a deployment package. Lambda supports two types of deployment packages: container images and .zip file archives. The workflow to create a function depends on the deployment package type. To configure a function defined as a container image, see Create a Lambda function using a container image.

You can use the Lambda console and the Lambda API to create a function defined with a .zip file archive. You can also upload an updated .zip file to change the function code.

Note

You cannot change the deployment package type (.zip or container image) for an existing function. For example, you cannot convert a container image function to use a .zip file archive. You must create a new function.

Topics

Creating the function

When you create a function defined with a .zip file archive, you choose a code template, the language version, and the execution role for the function. You add your function code after Lambda creates the function.

To create the function

  1. Open the Functions page of the Lambda console.

  2. Choose Create function.

  3. Choose Author from scratch or Use a blueprint to create your function.

  4. Under Basic information, do the following:

    1. For Function name, enter the function name. Function names are limited to 64 characters in length.

    2. For Runtime, choose the language version to use for your function.

    3. (Optional) For Architecture, choose the instruction set architecture to use for your function. The default architecture is x86_64. When you build the deployment package for your function, make sure that it is compatible with this instruction set architecture.

  5. (Optional) Under Permissions, expand Change default execution role. You can create a new Execution role or use an existing role.

  6. (Optional) Expand Advanced settings. You can choose a Code signing configuration for the function. You can also configure an (Amazon VPC) for the function to access.

  7. Choose Create function.

Lambda creates the new function. You can now use the console to add the function code and configure other function parameters and features. For code deployment instructions, see the handler page for the runtime your function uses.

Node.js

Deploy Node.js Lambda functions with .zip file archives

Python

Working with .zip file archives for Python Lambda functions

Ruby

Deploy Ruby Lambda functions with .zip file archives

Java

Deploy Java Lambda functions with .zip or JAR file archives

Go

Deploy Go Lambda functions with .zip file archives

C#

Build and deploy C# Lambda functions with .zip file archives

PowerShell

Deploy PowerShell Lambda functions with .zip file archives

Using the console code editor

The console creates a Lambda function with a single source file. For scripting languages, you can edit this file and add more files using the built-in code editor. To save your changes, choose Save. Then, to run your code, choose Test.

When you save your function code, the Lambda console creates a .zip file archive deployment package. When you develop your function code outside of the console (using an IDE) you need to create a deployment package to upload your code to the Lambda function.

Updating function code

For scripting languages (Node.js, Python, and Ruby), you can edit your function code in the embedded code editor. If the code is larger than 3MB, or if you need to add libraries, or for languages that the editor doesn't support (Java, Go, C#), you must upload your function code as a .zip archive. If the .zip file archive is smaller than 50 MB, you can upload the .zip file archive from your local machine. If the file is larger than 50 MB, upload the file to the function from an Amazon S3 bucket.

To upload function code as a .zip archive

  1. Open the Functions page of the Lambda console.

  2. Choose the function to update and choose the Code tab.

  3. Under Code source, choose Upload from.

  4. Choose .zip file, and then choose Upload.

    1. In the file chooser, select the new image version, choose Open, and then choose Save.

  5. (Alternative to step 4) Choose Amazon S3 location.

    1. In the text box, enter the S3 link URL of the .zip file archive, then choose Save.

Changing the runtime

If you update the function configuration to use a new runtime, you may need to update the function code to be compatible with the new runtime. If you update the function configuration to use a different runtime, you must provide new function code that is compatible with the runtime and architecture. For instructions on how to create a deployment package for the function code, see the handler page for the runtime that the function uses.

The Node.js 20, Python 3.12, Java 21, .NET 8, Ruby 3.3, and later base images are based on the Amazon Linux 2023 minimal container image. Earlier base images use Amazon Linux 2. AL2023 provides several advantages over Amazon Linux 2, including a smaller deployment footprint and updated versions of libraries such as glibc. For more information, see Introducing the Amazon Linux 2023 runtime for AWS Lambda on the AWS Compute Blog.

To change the runtime

  1. Open the Functions page of the Lambda console.

  2. Choose the function to update and choose the Code tab.

  3. Scroll down to the Runtime settings section, which is under the code editor.

  4. Choose Edit.

    1. For Runtime, select the runtime identifier.

    2. For Handler, specify file name and handler for your function.

    3. For Architecture, choose the instruction set architecture to use for your function.

  5. Choose Save.

Changing the architecture

Before you can change the instruction set architecture, you need to ensure that your function's code is compatible with the target architecture.

If you use Node.js, Python, or Ruby and you edit your function code in the embedded editor, the existing code may run without modification.

However, if you provide your function code using a .zip file archive deployment package, you must prepare a new .zip file archive that is compiled and built correctly for the target runtime and instruction-set architecture. For instructions, see the handler page for your function runtime.

To change the instruction set architecture

  1. Open the Functions page of the Lambda console.

  2. Choose the function to update and choose the Code tab.

  3. Under Runtime settings, choose Edit.

  4. For Architecture, choose the instruction set architecture to use for your function.

  5. Choose Save.

Using the Lambda API

To create and configure a function that uses a .zip file archive, use the following API operations:

AWS CloudFormation

You can use AWS CloudFormation to create a Lambda function that uses a .zip file archive. In your AWS CloudFormation template, the AWS::Lambda::Function resource specifies the Lambda function. For descriptions of the properties in the AWS::Lambda::Function resource, see AWS::Lambda::Function in the AWS CloudFormation User Guide.

In the AWS::Lambda::Function resource, set the following properties to create a function defined as a .zip file archive:

  • AWS::Lambda::Function

    • PackageType – Set to Zip.

    • Code – Enter the Amazon S3 bucket name and .zip file name in the S3Bucket and S3Keyfields. For Node.js or Python, you can provide inline source code of your Lambda function.

    • Runtime – Set the runtime value.

    • Architecture – Set the architecture value to arm64 to use the AWS Graviton2 processor. By default, the architecture value is x86_64.