Testing Lambda functions in the console

You can test your Lambda function in the console by invoking your function with a test event. A test event is a JSON input to your function. If your function doesn't require input, the event can be an empty document ({}).

When you run a test in the console, Lambda synchronously invokes your function with the test event. The function runtime converts the event JSON into an object and passes it to your code's handler method for processing.

Create a test event

Before you can test in the console, you need to create a private or shareable test event.

Invoking functions with test events

To test a function

1. Open the Functions page of the Lambda console.

2. Choose the name of the function that you want to test.

3. Choose the Test tab.

4. Under Test event, choose Create new event or Edit saved event and then choose the saved event that you want to use.

5. Optionally - choose a Template for the event JSON.

6. Choose Test.

7. To review the test results, under Execution result, expand Details.

To invoke your function without saving your test event, choose Test before saving. This creates an unsaved test event that Lambda preserves only for the duration of the session.

You can also access your saved and unsaved test events on the Code tab. From there, choose Test, and then choose your test event.

Creating private test events

Private test events are available only to the event creator, and they require no additional permissions to use. You can create and save up to 10 private test events per function.

To create a private test event

1. Open the Functions page of the Lambda console.

2. Choose the name of the function that you want to test.

3. Choose the Test tab.

4. Under Test event, do the following:

   1. Choose a Template.

   2. Enter a Name for the test.

   3. In the text entry box, enter the JSON test event.

   4. Under Event sharing settings, choose Private.

5. Choose Save changes.

You can also create new test events on the Code tab. From there, choose Test, Configure test event.

Creating shareable test events

Shareable test events are test events that you can share with other users in the same AWS account. You can edit other users' shareable test events and invoke your function with them.

Lambda saves shareable test events as schemas in an Amazon EventBridge (CloudWatch Events) schema registry named lambda-testevent-schemas. As Lambda utilizes this registry to store and call shareable test events you create, we recommend that you do not edit this registry or create a registry using the lambda-testevent-schemas name.

To see, share, and edit shareable test events, you must have permissions for all of the following EventBridge (CloudWatch Events) schema registry API operations:

• schemas.CreateRegistry

• schemas.CreateSchema

• schemas.DeleteSchema

• schemas.DeleteSchemaVersion

• schemas.DescribeRegistry

• schemas.DescribeSchema

• schemas.GetDiscoveredSchema

• schemas.ListSchemaVersions

• schemas.UpdateSchema

Note that saving edits made to a shareable test event overwrites that event.

If you cannot create, edit, or see shareable test events, check that your account has the required permissions for these operations. If you have the required permissions but still cannot access shareable test events, check for any resource-based policies that might limit access to the EventBridge (CloudWatch Events) registry.

To create a shareable test event

1. Open the Functions page of the Lambda console.

2. Choose the name of the function that you want to test.

3. Choose the Test tab.

4. Under Test event, do the following:

   1. Choose a Template.

   2. Enter a Name for the test.

   3. In the text entry box, enter the JSON test event.

   4. Under Event sharing settings, choose Shareable.

5. Choose Save changes.

Use shareable test events with AWS Serverless Application Model.

You can use AWS SAM to invoke shareable test events. See sam remote test-event in the AWS Serverless Application Model Developer Guide

Deleting shareable test event schemas

When you delete shareable test events, Lambda removes them from the lambda-testevent-schemas registry. If you remove the last shareable test event from the registry, Lambda deletes the registry.

If you delete the function, Lambda does not delete any associated shareable test event schemas. You must clean up these resources manually from the EventBridge (CloudWatch Events) console.