What is an advantage of using Cloud Functions in serverless architecture?

Using Cloud Functions in a serverless architecture provides the significant advantage of automatic scaling based on events. This means that the serverless environment can automatically adjust resources to accommodate the number of incoming requests or events without any manual intervention. When a function is triggered, the infrastructure seamlessly scales up to handle the increased load and then scales down when the demand decreases, optimizing resource usage and cost efficiency.

This feature is particularly beneficial for applications that experience variable workloads, as it allows developers to focus on writing code without worrying about the underlying infrastructure or scaling challenges. Automatic scaling enables applications to respond quickly to traffic spikes while ensuring that resources are used effectively during quieter periods, thus maintaining performance and cost-effectiveness.

In contrast, choices mentioning manual scaling, immediate costs with function execution, and full control of underlying infrastructure point towards limitations or characteristics that are not in alignment with the core benefits of a serverless model, which is designed to abstract away infrastructure management complexities and provide efficient resource utilization.