08 - Implement Azure Functions (5 min)

In this walkthrough, we will create a Function App to display a Hello message when there is an HTTP request.

Task 1: Create a Function app

In this task, we will create a Function app.

  1. Sign in to the Azure portal.

  2. In the Search bar at the top of the portal, search for and select Function App and then, from the Function App blade, click + Add, + Create, + New.

  3. On the Basic tab of the Function App blade, specify the following settings (replace xxxx in the name of the function with letters and digits such that the name is globally unique and leave all other settings with their default values):

    Settings Value
    Subscription Keep default supplied
    Resource group Create new resource group
    Function App name function-xxxx
    Publish Code
    Runtime stack .NET
    Version 3.1
    Region East US

    Note - Remember to change the xxxx so that it makes a unique Function App name

  4. Click Review + Create and, after successful validation, click Create to begin provisioning and deploying your new Azure Function App.

  5. Wait for the notification that the resource has been created.

  6. When the deployment has completed, click Go to resource from the deployment blade. Alternatively, navigate back to the Function App blade, click Refresh and verify that the newly created function app has the Running status.

    Screenshot of the Function App page with the new Function app.

Task 2: Create a HTTP triggered function and test

In this task, we will use the Webhook + API function to display a message when there is an HTTP request.

  1. On the Function App blade, click the newly created function app.

  2. On the function app blade, in the Functions section, click Functions and then click + Add, + Create, + New.

    Screenshot of the choose a development environment step in the azure functions for dot net getting started pane inside Azure portal. The display elements for creating a new in-portal function are highlighted. The highlighted elements are expand the function app, add new function, in-portal, and the continue button.

  3. An Add function pop-up window will appear on the right. In the Select a template section click HTTP trigger. Click Add

    Screenshot of the create a function step in the azure functions for dot net getting started pane inside Azure portal. The HTTP trigger card is highlighted to illustrate the display elements used to add a new webhook to an Azure function.

  4. On the HttpTrigger1 blade, in the Developer section, click Code + Test.

  5. On the Code + Test blade, review the auto-generated code and note that the code is designed to run an HTTP request and log information. Also, notice the function returns a Hello message with a name.

    Screenshot of the function code. The Hello message is hightlighted.

  6. Click Get function URL from the top section of function editor.

  7. Ensure that the value in the Key drop-down list is set to default and click Copy to copy the function URL.

    Screenshot of the get function URL pane inside the function editor in Azure portal. The display elements get function URL button, set key dropdown, and copy URL button are highlighted to indicate how to obtain and copy the function URL from the function editor.

  8. Open a new browser tab and paste the copied function URL into your web browser’s address bar. When the page is requested the function will run. Notice the returned message stating that the function requires a name in the request body.

    Screenshot of the please provide a name message.

  9. Append &name=yourname to the end of the URL.

    Note: For example, if your name is Cindy, the final URL will resemble the following: https://azfuncxxx.azurewebsites.net/api/HttpTrigger1?code=X9xx9999xXXXXX9x9xxxXX==&name=cindy

    Screenshot of a highlighted function URL and an appended example user name in the address bar of a web browser. The hello message and user name are also highlighted to illustrate the output of the function in the main browser window.

  10. When you hit enter, your function runs and every invocation is traced. To view the traces, return to the Portal HttpTrigger1 | Code + Test blade and click Monitor. Configure Application Insights by selecting the function you chose and the region. Select Create.

    Screenshot of a trace information log resulting from running the function inside the function editor in Azure portal.

Congratulations! You have created a Function App to display a Hello message when there is an HTTP request.

Note: To avoid additional costs, you can remove this resource group. Search for resource groups, click your resource group, and then click Delete resource group. Verify the name of the resource group and then click Delete. Monitor the Notifications to see how the delete is proceeding.