What advantage do Lambda layers provide when deploying functions?

Lambda layers offer the advantage of smaller deployment packages when deploying functions. When using Lambda layers, developers can package common dependencies or libraries separately from their function code. This modular approach allows the main function code to remain lightweight and focused solely on its core logic, while the libraries or shared code can be stored in layers. Consequently, this can lead to improved deployment times and easier management of dependencies.

By leveraging layers, teams can also update shared libraries independently of the function code. This means that if a particular library needs to be updated, it can be done without needing to repackage the entire function code, further contributing to smaller deployment packages and overall efficiency in development practices. This separation not only aids in keeping code manageable but also promotes reuse across multiple Lambda functions, leading to faster updates and a more organized deployment structure.