AWS Lambda’s instant execution can be a boon, but sometimes, you need to delay this process. While AWS Lambda doesn’t inherently support execution deferment, some effective workarounds exist.

  1. AWS Step Functions: You can use the Wait state in AWS Step Functions to introduce delays. Wrap your Lambda function in a state machine, adding a Wait state to pause execution before the function gets invoked. You can delay up to a year.

  2. AWS EventBridge: With EventBridge, you can set rules to trigger your Lambda function after a specific delay, enabling you to defer its execution. It works well for recurring delays and scheduled execution.

  3. Amazon SQS with Delay Queues: By creating a delay queue in Amazon SQS and sending a message designed to activate your Lambda function, execution can be postponed until the delay period expires. You can delay up to 15 minutes.

If your delay requirement is less than 15 minutes and depends on the event, leveraging Amazon SQS delay queue will be a fitting approach. If your delays involve complex logic, need to exceed 15 minutes, and have conditional aspects, choosing AWS Step Functions will be the optimal solution. For scenarios that require scheduling, AWS EventBridge can be your preferred choice.