Lambda supports multiple languages through the use of runtimes. For a function defined as a container image, you choose a runtime and the Linux distribution when you create the container image. To change the runtime, you create a new container image.
When you use a .zip file archive for the deployment package, you choose a runtime when you create the function. To change or upgrade the runtime, you can update your function's configuration. The runtime is paired with one of the Amazon Linux distributions. The underlying execution environment provides additional libraries and environment variables that you can access from your function code.
Amazon Linux
- Image – amzn-ami-hvm-2018.03.0.20181129-x86_64-gp2
- Linux kernel – 4.14
Amazon Linux 2
- Image – Custom
- Linux kernel – 4.14
Lambda invokes your function in an execution environment. The execution environment provides a secure and isolated runtime environment that manages the resources required to run your function. Lambda re-uses the execution environment from a previous invocation if one is available, or it can create a new execution environment.
A runtime can support a single version of a language, multiple versions of a language, or multiple languages. Runtimes specific to a language or framework version are deprecated when the version reaches end of life.
Node.js runtimes
| Name | Identifier | SDK for JavaScript | Operating system | Architectures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Node.js 16 | nodejs16.x |
2.1055.0 | Amazon Linux 2 | x86_64, arm64 |
| Node.js 14 | nodejs14.x |
2.1055.0 | Amazon Linux 2 | x86_64, arm64 |
| Node.js 12 | nodejs12.x |
2.1055.0 | Amazon Linux 2 | x86_64, arm64 |
Note
For end of support information about Node.js 10, see Runtime deprecation policy.
Python runtimes
| Name | Identifier | AWS SDK for Python | Operating system | Architectures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Python 3.9 | python3.9 |
boto3-1.20.32 botocore-1.23.32 | Amazon Linux 2 | x86_64, arm64 |
| Python 3.8 | python3.8 |
boto3-1.20.32 botocore-1.23.32 | Amazon Linux 2 | x86_64, arm64 |
| Python 3.7 | python3.7 |
boto3-1.20.32 botocore-1.23.32 | Amazon Linux | x86_64 |
| Python 3.6 | python3.6 |
boto3-1.20.32 botocore-1.23.32 | Amazon Linux | x86_64 |
Ruby runtimes
| Name | Identifier | SDK for Ruby | Operating system | Architectures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruby 2.7 | ruby2.7 |
3.0.1 | Amazon Linux 2 | x86_64, arm64 |
Note
For end of support information about Ruby 2.5, see Runtime deprecation policy.
Java runtimes
| Name | Identifier | JDK | Operating system | Architectures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Java 11 | java11 |
amazon-corretto-11 | Amazon Linux 2 | x86_64, arm64 |
| Java 8 | java8.al2 |
amazon-corretto-8 | Amazon Linux 2 | x86_64, arm64 |
| Java 8 | java8 |
amazon-corretto-8 | Amazon Linux | x86_64 |
Go runtimes
| Name | Identifier | Operating system | Architectures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Go 1.x | go1.x |
Amazon Linux | x86_64 |
Note
Runtimes that use the Amazon Linux operating system, such as Go 1.x, do not support the arm64 architecture. To use arm64 architecture, you can run Go with the provided.al2 runtime.
.NET runtimes
| Name | Identifier | Operating system | Architectures |
|---|---|---|---|
| .NET 6 | dotnet6 |
Amazon Linux 2 | x86_64, arm64 |
| .NET Core 3.1 | dotnetcore3.1 |
Amazon Linux 2 | x86_64, arm64 |
Note
For end of support information about .NET Core 2.1, see Runtime deprecation policy.
To use other languages in Lambda, you can implement a custom runtime. The Lambda execution environment provides a runtime interface for getting invocation events and sending responses. You can deploy a custom runtime alongside your function code, or in a layer.
Custom runtime
| Name | Identifier | Operating system | Architectures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Runtime | provided.al2 |
Amazon Linux 2 | x86_64, arm64 |
| Custom Runtime | provided |
Amazon Linux | x86_64 |
Topics
- Modifying the runtime environment
- Custom AWS Lambda runtimes
- Tutorial – Publishing a custom runtime
- Using AVX2 vectorization in Lambda
- Runtime deprecation policy
Lambda runtimes for .zip file archives are built around a combination of operating system, programming language, and software libraries that are subject to maintenance and security updates. When security updates are no longer available for a component of a runtime, Lambda deprecates the runtime.
Deprecation (end of support) for a runtime occurs in two phases.
Phase 1 - Lambda no longer applies security patches or other updates to the runtime. You can no longer create functions that use the runtime, but you can continue to update existing functions. This includes updating the runtime version, and rolling back to the previous runtime version. Note that functions that use a deprecated runtime are no longer eligible for technical support.
Phase 2 - you can no longer create or update functions that use the runtime. To update a function, you need to migrate it to a supported runtime version. After you migrate the function to a supported runtime version, you cannot rollback the function to the previous runtime. Phase 2 starts at least 30 days after the start of Phase 1.
Lambda does not block invocations of functions that use deprecated runtime versions. Function invocations continue indefinitely after the runtime version reaches end of support. However, AWS strongly recommends that you migrate functions to a supported runtime version so that you continue to receive security patches and remain eligible for technical support.
In the table below, each phase starts at midnight (Pacific time zone) on the specified date. The following runtimes have reached or are scheduled for end of support:
Runtime end of support dates
| Name | Identifier | Operating system | Deprecation Phase 1 | Deprecation Phase 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| .NET Core 2.1 | dotnetcore2.1 |
Amazon Linux | Jan 5, 2022 | Apr 13, 2022 |
| Python 3.6 | python3.6 |
Amazon Linux | July 18, 2022 | Aug 17, 2022 |
| Python 2.7 | python2.7 |
Amazon Linux | July 15, 2021 | Feb 14, 2022 |
| Ruby 2.5 | ruby2.5 |
Amazon Linux | July 30, 2021 | March 31, 2022 |
| Node.js 10.x | nodejs10.x |
Amazon Linux 2 | July 30, 2021 | Feb 14, 2022 |
| Node.js 8.10 | nodejs8.10 |
Amazon Linux | March 6, 2020 | |
| Node.js 6.10 | nodejs6.10 |
Amazon Linux | August 12, 2019 | |
| Node.js 4.3 edge | nodejs4.3-edge |
Amazon Linux | April 30, 2019 | |
| Node.js 4.3 | nodejs4.3 |
Amazon Linux | March 6, 2020 | |
| Node.js 0.10 | nodejs |
Amazon Linux | October 31, 2016 | |
| .NET Core 2.0 | dotnetcore2.0 |
Amazon Linux | May 30, 2019 | |
| .NET Core 1.0 | dotnetcore1.0 |
Amazon Linux | July 30, 2019 |
In almost all cases, the end-of-life date of a language version or operating system is known well in advance. Lambda notifies you by email if you have functions using a runtime that is scheduled for end of support in the next 60 days. In rare cases, advance notice of support ending might not be possible. For example, security issues that require a backwards-incompatible update, or a runtime component that doesn't provide a long-term support (LTS) schedule.
Language and framework support policies
- Node.js – github.com
- Python – devguide.python.org
- Ruby – www.ruby-lang.org
- Java – www.oracle.com and Corretto FAQs
- Go – golang.org
- .NET Core – dotnet.microsoft.com