What is IBM Cloud Functions?

Based on Apache OpenWhisk, IBM Cloud™ Functions is a polyglot functions-as-a-service (FaaS) programming platform for developing lightweight code that scalably executes on demand.

Introduction to IBM Cloud Functions using Apache OpenWhisk

Get the O’Reilly report

IBM Cloud Functions features

Explore an open-ended ecosystem

IBM Cloud Functions provides access to the Apache OpenWhisk ecosystem in which anyone can contribute their action code as building blocks to the expanding repository.

Speed and simplify development

IBM Cloud Functions accelerates application development, which enables developers to quickly build apps with action sequences that execute in response to our event-driven world.

Leverage the benefits of cognitive services

IBM Cloud Functions, by offering easy access to IBM Watson® APIs within the event-trigger-action workflow, makes cognitive analysis of application data inherent to your workflows.

Pay for what you actually use

It’s simple: pay for actual use rather than pre-allocated capacity. Costs increase only as you construct more OpenWhisk-intensive solutions or as existing solutions scale to support bigger loads.

How customers use it

Serverless web application and API

In this tutorial, you will create a serverless web application by hosting static website content on GitHub pages and implementing the application back end using Functions on IBM Cloud.

Go to tutorial

Flowchart showing serverless web application and API process

Mobile application with a serverless back end

In this tutorial, you will learn how to use IBM Cloud Functions and cognitive and data services to build a serverless back end for a mobile application.

Go to the serverless tutorial

architecture steps to getting a feedback app that analyzes tone of feedback text with appropriate response

Make video searchable

Using IBM Cloud Functions in combination with IBM Cloudant® and Watson Visual Recognition, you can create an efficient, serverless architecture to search video content.

architecture for searching video content

Customer success stories

Logo for GreenQ: Making garbage trucks smarter
Logo for Articoolo
Logo for SiteSpirit

Dive into the technology

Tablet screen with photos flying off

Serverless

Discover how the serverless programming model is a simpler, more cost-effective way of building and operating applications in the cloud.

Learn about serverless computing

Function-as-a-Service logo

Function-as-a-Service (FaaS)

An introduction to FaaS, and how it makes it easier for cloud application developers to run and manage microservices applications.

Learn more about FaaS

Bright point of light in cloudy sky

Compute services on IBM Cloud

The broadest portfolio of secure compute choices: Bare metal, Virtual Private Cloud, virtual servers, containers, and serverless resources.

See all compute services on IBM Cloud

Related products

Cloudant

Cloudant is a fully managed document store designed for modern web and mobile applications and that leverages a flexible JSON schema.

Cloud Internet Services

Improve the user experience of your public-facing websites and applications through optimized performance and reliability, better responsiveness and increased flexibility at the network edge.

Event Streams for IBM Cloud

Capture and distribute real-time event data in the cloud with IBM Message Hub, a fully managed Kafka-as-a-service platform.

Get started on IBM Cloud Functions in minutes

Try Cloud Functions