Step Functions coordinates multiple AWS services into a workflow, or state machine. Instead of chaining Lambda functions with fragile custom code, you define the steps, the order, retries, and error handling visually.
When the exam wants Step Functions
The tell is “orchestrate multiple steps,” “coordinate several Lambda functions,” or “long-running workflow with error handling and retries.” It manages state between steps so you don’t have to. For simple event routing use EventBridge; for multi-step coordination with logic, Step Functions.
Test yourself
A data pipeline runs several Lambda functions in sequence with retries and branching logic, and the team wants to manage the flow without custom orchestration code. What service fits?
- Amazon SQS
- AWS Step Functions
- Amazon SNS
- Amazon CloudWatch
👉 Click to reveal the answer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Step Functions orchestrates multi-step workflows with built-in retries, branching, and state management — no custom orchestration code. SQS (A) queues messages; SNS (C) fans out notifications; CloudWatch (D) monitors.
Related topics
AWS Lambda · Amazon EventBridge · API Gateway
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