Netlify Functions default to a roughly 10-second execution timeout suited to typical API requests, while Background Functions support significantly longer-running tasks (up to 15 minutes) for async work like processing a large file or calling a slow third-party API -- a genuinely distinct function type, not just a configuration toggle on a standard function.
- Use Background Functions specifically for tasks that would exceed a standard function's timeout, rather than trying to force long-running work into a regular function
- Keep standard Functions for typical fast API responses, reserving Background Functions for the genuinely slower async cases
- Monitor Background Function execution time even within its longer limit, since a task creeping toward 15 minutes is a sign it may need a different architecture
Use cases
Intro for serverless use cases
- Build API endpoints with Netlify
- Process form submissions securely
- Transform images on upload
- Run background tasks on events
- Prototype new features quickly
- Experiment with edge functions
- Deliver dynamic content with low latency
- Integrate with CMS webhooks
Closing note on usage