--- title: "Serverless functions made simple" description: "Netlify Functions adds an entire serverless development and deployment pipeline to your project as part of your existing workflow. Just add files." source: "https://www.netlify.com/blog/2021/12/11/serverless-functions-made-simple-just-add-files/" last_updated: "2026-07-10T19:03:40.000Z" --- > Throughout December we’ll be [highlighting a different Netlify feature each day](https://www.netlify.com/blog/2021/12/01/highlighting-a-different-netlify-feature-each-day-in-december/?utm_campaign=featdaily21&utm_source=netlify&utm_medium=blog&utm_content=simple-serverless). It might just be the thing you need to unlock those creative juices, and [dust off that domain](https://www.netlify.com/blog/2021/12/01/dusty-domains-your-forgotten-domains-raise-money-for-charity/?utm_campaign=featdaily21&utm_source=netlify&utm_medium=blog&utm_content=simple-serverless) you registered but never deployed! Keep an eye [on the blog](https://www.netlify.com/blog/2021/12/01/highlighting-a-different-netlify-feature-each-day-in-december/?utm_campaign=featdaily21&utm_source=netlify&utm_medium=blog&utm_content=simple-serverless) and on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/netlify) for each feature! Once upon a time, if you needed a back-end for your web project you’d have to get yourself a server. Or perhaps a virtual server. Either way, you were in for some configuration and maintenance. Maintenance which would last forever. These days we can use serverless functions to provide back-end services for our projects. And so, with a little JavaScript, we can deliver a full stack of capabilities without having to learn the entire spectrum of skills necessary to truly be a full-stack developer. (From browser APIs to OS security patches, via DBA skills, tap dancing, and everything in between) But building, deploying, and versioning serverless functions can be tricky, right? No, not these days. We got you! Netlify Functions adds an entire serverless development and deployment pipeline to your project as part of your existing workflow. ## How to add serverless functions to your project All you need to do is add a file containing your functions to a `netlify/functions` folder in your project directory, and push them to your project repo. That’s it. When you do that, your functions (and any dependencies) will be packaged up, deployed to AWS Lambda, and all of their configuration will be taken care of, resulting in serverless functions with URLs relative to your project’s root. No need for an AWS account. No need to leave your code. Done. ## Accessing your functions How you name your function files determines the URL that they get. By default, a file called `random-joke.js` will be served up at the URL `https://your-project.domain/.netlify/functions/random-joke` But you can configure this in order to have complete control over your URL design. Deploying updates and rolling back to previous versions of your serverless functions happens just the same as with the rest of your code. They are part of the same codebase and benefit from all of the same workflow tools as the rest of your site. ## Try it ![Screenshot of an example, "hello world" site](/v3/img/blog/screenshot-hello-functions-3-.jpg "Screenshot: Hello world functions") Here’s a [simple example site](https://example-hello-world-function.netlify.app/) to explore. You can make a copy and deploy it to Netlify with just a couple of clicks. Try it out by clicking the Deploy to Netlify button below. [![Deploy to Netlify](https://www.netlify.com/img/deploy/button.svg)](https://app.netlify.com/start/deploy?repository=https://github.com/netlify/example-hello-world-functions&utm_medium=social&utm_source=github&utm_campaign=devex-ph&utm_content=devex-examples) ## More information - [About Netlify Functions](https://www.netlify.com/products/functions/?utm_campaign=featdaily21&utm_source=netlify&utm_medium=blog&utm_content=simple-serverless) - [Docs: Netlify Functions](https://docs.netlify.com/functions/overview/?utm_campaign=featdaily21&utm_source=netlify&utm_medium=blog&utm_content=simple-serverless) - [Accessing your function logs](https://docs.netlify.com/functions/logs/?utm_campaign=featdaily21&utm_source=netlify&utm_medium=blog&utm_content=simple-serverless) - [Learn serverless in the functions playground](https://functions.netlify.com/?utm_campaign=featdaily21&utm_source=netlify&utm_medium=blog&utm_content=simple-serverless) ### Share - [X (fka Twitter)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Serverless functions made simple - Just add files&url=https://www.netlify.com/blog/2021/12/11/serverless-functions-made-simple-just-add-files//) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.netlify.com%2Fblog%2F2021%2F12%2F11%2Fserverless-functions-made-simple-just-add-files%2F%2F) - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.netlify.com/blog/2021/12/11/serverless-functions-made-simple-just-add-files//) - [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Serverless functions made simple - Just add files+https://www.netlify.com/blog/2021/12/11/serverless-functions-made-simple-just-add-files//) * * * ### Tags - [Serverless](/blog/tags/serverless/) - [Functions](/blog/tags/functions/) - [Tips](/blog/tags/tips/) - [Workflow](/blog/tags/workflow/) ## Keep reading ![](/images/blog-fallback-thumbnail.svg) Tools & Services February 18, 2021 [ ### Netlify Functions - for an unrivaled serverless workflow ](/blog/2021/02/18/netlify-functions-for-an-unrivaled-serverless-workflow/) - ![Profile picture of Phil Hawksworth](/_astro/9cfe2bbe94bcb555ce3ac7683ac7905ad3fd32b1-400x400_Z18H6R1.webp) Phil Hawksworth ![](/images/blog-fallback-thumbnail.svg) Guides & Tutorials May 26, 2021 [ ### How to Build Dynamic Applications on the Jamstack with Serverless Functions ](/blog/2021/05/26/how-to-build-dynamic-applications-on-the-jamstack-with-serverless-functions/) - ![Profile picture of Netlify team](/_astro/2ded7a52db41c7613be0baa648ac9bf9c1e8a985-300x300_DNhVu.svg) Netlify team ## Recent posts News & Announcements June 25, 2026 [ ### Netlify Functions, designed for Agent Experience ](/blog/netlify-functions-designed-for-agent-experience) - ![Profile picture of Eduardo Bouças](/_astro/52958f21e8450baf6d8e60302341a984e220c0cd-512x512_13VDlu.webp) Eduardo Bouças News & Announcements June 24, 2026 [ ### How we measure Netlify’s Agent Experience ](/blog/how-we-measure-netlify-agent-experience) - ![Profile picture of Sean Roberts](/_astro/bbf2243f8171dbddd80ab2103622106cef84d125-512x512_Z1d2LKE.webp) Sean Roberts Guides & Tutorials May 15, 2026 [ ### How to build a real-time AI chatbot in minutes with Netlify Agent Runners (no backend) ](/blog/how-to-build-a-real-time-ai-chatbot-in-minutes-with-netlify-agent-runners-no-backend) - ![Profile picture of Nahrin Jalal](/_astro/f0e7c8f227a03fe58340c99ef5439d5a896c0733-272x272_Z23kDpD.webp) Nahrin Jalal ![](/_astro/3f255b372fa958df35802666ee33b4609b2d71bd-1200x1586_1VtE2D.webp) ### How do the best dev and marketing teams work together? [Access the report](https://www.netlify.com/reports/2024-leadership-trend-report/access/)