What does an AWS Lambda function allow you to do?

AWS Lambda is a serverless compute service that enables you to execute code in response to various events without needing to manage or provision servers. This model allows developers to focus on writing and deploying code while AWS handles the underlying infrastructure.

By utilizing AWS Lambda, you can create functions that respond to specific triggers, such as changes in data in an S3 bucket, updates to DynamoDB tables, or HTTP requests via API Gateway. This event-driven architecture is highly scalable and can automatically handle varying loads, making it both cost-effective and efficient.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe the functionality of AWS Lambda. Hosting containers and provisioning EC2 instances both involve managing server infrastructure, which is contrary to the serverless model of Lambda. Storing large files in S3 is a separate service focused on object storage and does not pertain to the execution of code.