Using Azure storage Queues

Develop for Azure Storage

Shahzad Mian

Content Developer, DataCamp

Introduction to storage Queues

• Storage queues are a message queuing service.
• Applications often handle many requests at once.
• Waiting for each process to finish can slow systems down.
• Azure Storage Queues enable asynchronous communication between components.
• Asynchronous messaging helps maintain speed and scalability.

The real world challenge

• Cipher Coffee's online store receives hundreds of orders at once.
• Without queues, each order would have to wait for others to finish.
• Queues allow orders to be accepted instantly while processing happens later.
• This keeps the website fast and customers satisfied.

What is a Queue?

• A queue is a waiting line for messages to be processed.
• Messages are processed in order: first in, first out.
• Each message represents a small unit of work.
• Once processed, the message is deleted from the queue.

How Azure storage Queues work

• Azure Storage Queues are part of your Storage account.
• Messages can be up to 64 KB and are stored durably.
• Applications can:
  • Send messages to the queue.
  • Receive and process messages.
  • Delete messages after completion.
• Messages persist even if the system restarts.

The asynchronous workflow

 

 

• Sender adds a message, such as "Process payment for Order 2045"
• A background service such as an Azure Function retrieves the message.
• After successful processing, the message is deleted.
• This pattern keeps systems scalable and responsive under load.

Cipher Coffee in action

• The Cipher Coffee website sends an order message to the queue.
• The order fulfillment system reads the message from the queue.
• The message triggers updates to the database and payment system.
• Baristas are notified without slowing down customer checkout.

Benefits of Queues

• Decoupling: Systems operate independently.
• Scalability: Add workers to process messages faster.
• Reliability: Messages persist even during downtime.
• Integration: Works with Azure Functions and Logic Apps.

Message lifecycle

• Messages move through three main stages:
  • Enqueue: Message is added to the queue.
  • Dequeue: Worker retrieves the message for processing.
  • Delete: Message is removed after successful processing.
• Failed messages reappear automatically for retry.

Common use cases

• Order processing and background billing.

• Sending notification emails.

• IoT telemetry buffering.

• Log collection and event pipelines.
  • Use queues for independent, retry-safe operations.
  • Many more

Queues Vs Service Bus

• Azure Service Bus is used for advanced messaging scenarios.
• Service Bus supports:
  • Message ordering and sessions.
  • Transactions and topics/subscriptions.
• Azure Storage Queues are simpler and more cost-effective for lightweight workloads.
• Cipher Coffee uses queues for order processing and real-time updates.

Let's practice!

Develop for Azure Storage