Azure Functions is the serverless compute service that enables you to run small pieces of code (functions) without worrying about infrastructure.
In modern .NET (7/8+), Azure Functions run in an **Isolated Worker** process. This means your function app stays independent of the Azure Functions runtime version, allowing you to use the latest .NET features as soon as they are released.
The 'Azure Edge'. Unlike AWS Lambda, Azure has **Durable Functions**, a library that allows you to write 'Stateful' serverless code. You can implement complex workflows like 'Chaining', 'Fan-out/Fan-in', and 'Human-in-the-loop' approvals directly in C# code without an external orchestrator.
Q: "What is the 'Consumption Plan'?"
Architect Answer: "Consumption is true 'Pay-as-you-go'. You pay nothing if your function doesn't run. However, you face 'Cold Starts'. For mission-critical APIs, consider the **Premium Plan**, which keeps 'Warm' instances ready and avoids cold starts completely while still providing all the serverless benefits."