DevOps & CloudIntermediate
Cold Start
PronunciationKOHLD START
Definition
A delay that occurs when a serverless function or container handles its first request after being idle, because the platform needs to provision resources and load the code.
Where you hear it
In performance reviews, serverless architecture discussions, and when optimizing API latency.
Examples
The first API request took three seconds because of a cold start.
We use provisioned concurrency to eliminate cold starts for critical endpoints.
Common mistake
Assuming every request suffers the same delay, when actually subsequent requests run much faster because the container is already warm.