AWS Batch
Run batch jobs
Schedules and runs large numbers of compute jobs (containers) on EC2, Spot or Fargate: you submit jobs to a queue, and AWS Batch provisions just enough resources and releases them when done.
- Cost$ Low
- Difficulty●●●●●
- Costs money when idle?No
- Managed by AWS
- In examsCLF · SAA
Think of it asLike a workshop shift dispatcher: work orders line up, and the foreman calls in enough workers for each batch, then sends them home.
When to use it
✓ Use it when
Long-running jobs (beyond Lambda limits), in large numbers, that can run in parallel: data processing, simulation, rendering.
✗ Avoid it when
Short event-driven tasks → Lambda; multi-step flows that need orchestration → Step Functions.
Common uses
- Processing thousands of video or image files
- Financial simulation, genomic analysis
- Running nightly ETL jobs on Spot to save money
What does it cost?
- Pricing model: No separate charge; you pay for the EC2/Spot/Fargate used while jobs run.
⚠️ Cost traps
Setting the compute environment's min vCPU above 0 keeps instances running even when there are no jobs.
Related services
SAA-C03 study guide
Batch is covered in these study modules: