Azure SDKs Reference

Welcome to the comprehensive reference for Azure SDKs. This page provides detailed information on using Azure SDKs to build applications that leverage Microsoft Azure cloud services. Explore guides, API references, and best practices for various programming languages.

Introduction to Azure SDKs

Azure SDKs are a collection of libraries, tools, and documentation that enable developers to easily integrate Azure services into their applications. These SDKs are designed to be idiomatic, robust, and developer-friendly, supporting a wide range of platforms and programming languages.

By using the Azure SDKs, you can interact with services like Azure Blob Storage, Azure Cosmos DB, Azure Functions, Azure Kubernetes Service, and many more, directly from your code.

SDK Overview

The Azure SDKs are organized into client libraries for specific Azure services. Each client library provides a consistent and familiar developer experience across different languages.

Key Goals of Azure SDKs:

  • Consistency: Provide a predictable API design across all languages.
  • Idiomatic Experience: Align with the common patterns and conventions of each programming language.
  • Productivity: Simplify common development tasks and reduce boilerplate code.
  • Performance: Optimize for speed and efficiency.
  • Observability: Integrate seamlessly with logging, tracing, and metrics.

You can find the latest SDK releases, source code, and samples on GitHub.

SDKs by Language

Choose your preferred programming language to see the available Azure SDKs and relevant documentation.

.NET SDKs

The .NET SDKs for Azure provide a comprehensive set of libraries for .NET developers. Install them using NuGet. 

dotnet add package Microsoft.Azure.Storage.Blob

Java SDKs

Leverage the Azure Java SDKs to integrate Azure services into your Java applications. Available via Maven Central. 

<dependency>
    <groupId>com.azure</groupId>
    <artifactId>azure-storage-blob</artifactId>
    <version>12.14.2</version>
</dependency>

Python SDKs

Use the Azure SDKs for Python to build cloud-native applications. Install packages using pip. 

pip install azure-storage-blob

Go SDKs

The Go SDKs for Azure enable Go developers to interact with Azure services. 

go get github.com/Azure/azure-sdk-for-go/sdk/storage/azblob

JavaScript SDKs

Build web and Node.js applications with the Azure SDKs for JavaScript. Install via npm. 

npm install @azure/storage-blob

Key Features

Azure SDKs are built with a focus on modern development practices and offer a rich set of features:

  • Authentication: Support for various authentication methods, including Azure Active Directory, connection strings, and managed identities.
  • Asynchronous Operations: Comprehensive support for asynchronous programming models in languages that support it, maximizing performance.
  • Retry Policies: Built-in intelligent retry mechanisms to handle transient network issues gracefully.
  • Logging and Diagnostics: Detailed logging capabilities to aid in debugging and monitoring.
  • HTTP Pipeline: A flexible pipeline for customizing requests and responses, including adding custom policies.
  • Paging: Simplified handling of paginated results from Azure services.

Getting Started

To get started with Azure SDKs:

  1. Set up your Azure Environment: If you don't have an Azure subscription, create one for free.
  2. Install the SDK: Use your language's package manager (NuGet, Maven, pip, npm, etc.) to install the specific SDK package you need.
  3. Authenticate: Configure your application to authenticate with Azure. This usually involves setting up credentials.
  4. Write Code: Use the SDK's client libraries to interact with Azure services.

Refer to the Azure SDK Quickstarts for language-specific examples.

Best Practices

Follow these best practices for an optimal experience with Azure SDKs:

  • Keep SDKs Updated: Regularly update your SDK packages to benefit from new features, performance improvements, and security patches.
  • Handle Exceptions: Implement robust error handling for Azure SDK operations.
  • Manage Credentials Securely: Never hardcode secrets. Use Azure Key Vault or managed identities for secure credential management.
  • Use Asynchronous Operations: Where available, leverage async/await patterns to improve application responsiveness.
  • Configure Retry Policies: Understand and configure retry policies to handle intermittent failures effectively.
  • Enable Diagnostics: Configure logging to gain insights into SDK behavior.

Additional Resources