Azure IoT Concepts

Azure IoT provides a comprehensive suite of services that enable secure, reliable, and scalable communication between devices and the cloud. Understanding these core concepts is essential for building robust IoT solutions.

Device Connectivity

Devices can connect to Azure IoT Hub using a variety of protocols, including MQTT, AMQP, and HTTPS. Each device is assigned a unique identity and authentication credentials.

// Sample MQTT connection string
HostName=myiothub.azure-devices.net;
DeviceId=myDeviceId;
SharedAccessKey=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

IoT Hub

The central message gateway, IoTHub, handles bi‑directional communication, device provisioning, and device management. It scales automatically to handle millions of simultaneous device connections.

Message Routing

Messages from devices can be routed to various endpoints such as Azure Functions, Event Grid, or a storage account using routing rules defined in the hub.

Device Twins

A Device Twin is a JSON document that stores device metadata, configuration, and state information. It enables cloud applications to read and update device properties without direct device interaction.

Modules & Edge Computing

Azure IoT Edge extends the cloud to the device, allowing you to run containers (modules) locally. Edge devices can process data, run AI, and act on events even when offline.