Azure Functions APIs

Explore the comprehensive set of APIs for Azure Functions, a serverless compute service that lets you run code without provisioning or managing infrastructure.

Introduction to Azure Functions APIs

Azure Functions provides a powerful and flexible way to build event-driven applications and services on Azure. The APIs allow you to programmatically manage, deploy, and interact with your functions.

Key capabilities exposed through the APIs include:

  • Function Management: Create, read, update, and delete function apps and individual functions.
  • Deployment: Deploy code to your function apps.
  • Monitoring and Diagnostics: Access logs, metrics, and execution details.
  • Triggers and Bindings: Configure event triggers (e.g., HTTP, Timer, Blob Storage) and output bindings.
  • Runtime Management: Control function app settings and configuration.

Core API Endpoints

The primary way to interact with Azure Functions programmatically is through the Azure Resource Manager (ARM) REST API and the Azure CLI.

Azure Resource Manager (ARM) API

You can manage Azure Functions resources using the ARM API. This involves interacting with endpoints related to Microsoft.Web providers.

Common Operations

Here are some common operations and their corresponding HTTP methods and paths:

Operation HTTP Method URL Path (relative) Description
List Function Apps in a Resource Group GET /subscriptions/{subscriptionId}/resourceGroups/{resourceGroupName}/providers/Microsoft.Web/sites?kind=functionapp Retrieves a list of all function apps within a specified resource group.
Get Function App GET /subscriptions/{subscriptionId}/resourceGroups/{resourceGroupName}/providers/Microsoft.Web/sites/{name} Retrieves details for a specific function app.
Create/Update Function App PUT /subscriptions/{subscriptionId}/resourceGroups/{resourceGroupName}/providers/Microsoft.Web/sites/{name} Creates a new function app or updates an existing one. Requires a request body with app configuration.
List Functions in a Function App GET /subscriptions/{subscriptionId}/resourceGroups/{resourceGroupName}/providers/Microsoft.Web/sites/{name}/functions Retrieves a list of all functions within a given function app.
Get Function GET /subscriptions/{subscriptionId}/resourceGroups/{resourceGroupName}/providers/Microsoft.Web/sites/{name}/functions/{functionName} Retrieves details for a specific function.
Delete Function App DELETE /subscriptions/{subscriptionId}/resourceGroups/{resourceGroupName}/providers/Microsoft.Web/sites/{name} Deletes a function app.

For detailed information on request bodies, parameters, and responses, please refer to the official Azure Web API documentation.

Azure CLI

The Azure Command-Line Interface (CLI) provides a convenient wrapper around the ARM API, simplifying many common tasks.

Example Commands

# Create a new function app
az functionapp create --resource-group MyResourceGroup --consumption-plan-location westus --runtime node --runtime-version 14 --functions-version 3 --name MyUniqueFunctionApp --storage-account MyStorageAccount

# List all function apps
az functionapp list

# Deploy code to a function app (using zip deploy)
az functionapp deployment source config-zip --resource-group MyResourceGroup --name MyUniqueFunctionApp --src-zip MyFunctionApp.zip

See the Azure CLI functionapp command reference for more options.

Azure Functions Runtime APIs

While ARM and CLI handle infrastructure, you can also interact with the runtime itself for specific tasks, such as invoking functions directly or managing their state.

HTTP Trigger Invocation

Functions with an HTTP trigger can be invoked via standard HTTP requests. The endpoint is typically derived from the function app URL.

POST https://myfunctionapp.azurewebsites.net/api/MyHttpTriggerFunction
Content-Type: application/json

{
    "name": "World"
}

Invocation APIs (Experimental/Advanced)

For certain scenarios, such as automated testing or complex orchestration, you might interact with lower-level invocation APIs. These are often less documented and subject to change.

Consult the specific language SDK documentation (e.g., .NET, Node.js, Python) for details on managing function execution within your application code.

Key Concepts and Best Practices

  • Function Host: The runtime environment that executes your functions.
  • Triggers: Events that cause a function to execute.
  • Bindings: Declarative ways to connect your function to data services.
  • Scalability: Azure Functions automatically scales based on demand.
  • Security: Use API keys, Azure AD, or Managed Identities for secure access.

Further Reading