Creating a web app in Azure - Step-by-Step CLI Walkthrough

Introduction

Creating a web app lets you run your website or web service on the cloud. This means your app is always available and can handle many users without needing your own server.

When you want to quickly launch a website without buying or managing servers.

When you need your app to be accessible from anywhere in the world.

When you want automatic scaling to handle more visitors during busy times.

When you want to focus on writing code and not on server maintenance.

When you want to deploy updates easily without downtime.

Commands

This command logs you into your Azure account so you can manage resources.

Terminal

az login

Expected Output

To sign in, use a web browser to open the page https://microsoft.com/devicelogin and enter the code ABCD1234 to authenticate.



You have logged in. Now let us find all the subscriptions to which you have access...

Creates a resource group named 'myResourceGroup' in the East US region to hold your web app and related resources.

Terminal

az group create --name myResourceGroup --location eastus

Expected Output

{

  "id": "/subscriptions/xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx/resourceGroups/myResourceGroup",

  "location": "eastus",

  "managedBy": null,

  "name": "myResourceGroup",

  "properties": {

    "provisioningState": "Succeeded"

  },

  "tags": {},

  "type": "Microsoft.Resources/resourceGroups"

}

→

--name - Specifies the name of the resource group

→

--location - Specifies the Azure region for the resources

Creates an App Service plan named 'myAppServicePlan' in the resource group. This plan defines the pricing tier and OS for your web app.

Terminal

az appservice plan create --name myAppServicePlan --resource-group myResourceGroup --sku B1 --is-linux

Expected Output

{

  "id": "/subscriptions/xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx/resourceGroups/myResourceGroup/providers/Microsoft.Web/serverfarms/myAppServicePlan",

  "location": "eastus",

  "name": "myAppServicePlan",

  "properties": {

    "status": "Ready",

    "workerTierName": null

  },

  "sku": {

    "capacity": 1,

    "family": "B",

    "name": "B1",

    "size": "B1",

    "tier": "Basic"

  },

  "type": "Microsoft.Web/serverfarms"

}

→

--sku - Sets the pricing tier (B1 is Basic small)

→

--is-linux - Specifies the plan is for Linux-based apps

Creates the web app named 'myUniqueWebApp123' in the resource group using the App Service plan. It sets the runtime environment to Node.js 14 LTS.

Terminal

az webapp create --resource-group myResourceGroup --plan myAppServicePlan --name myUniqueWebApp123 --runtime "NODE|14-lts"

Expected Output

{

  "id": "/subscriptions/xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx/resourceGroups/myResourceGroup/providers/Microsoft.Web/sites/myUniqueWebApp123",

  "location": "eastus",

  "name": "myUniqueWebApp123",

  "properties": {

    "enabled": true,

    "hostNames": [

      "myUniqueWebApp123.azurewebsites.net"

    ],

    "state": "Running"

  },

  "type": "Microsoft.Web/sites"

}

→

--runtime - Specifies the language and version for the app

Shows details about the web app to confirm it was created and is running.

Terminal

az webapp show --resource-group myResourceGroup --name myUniqueWebApp123

Expected Output

{

  "id": "/subscriptions/xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx/resourceGroups/myResourceGroup/providers/Microsoft.Web/sites/myUniqueWebApp123",

  "location": "eastus",

  "name": "myUniqueWebApp123",

  "properties": {

    "state": "Running",

    "hostNames": [

      "myUniqueWebApp123.azurewebsites.net"

    ]

  },

  "type": "Microsoft.Web/sites"

}

Key Concept

If you remember nothing else from this pattern, remember: create a resource group first, then an App Service plan, and finally the web app itself.

Common Mistakes

Trying to create a web app without first creating a resource group.

Azure needs a resource group to organize and manage resources; without it, the web app creation fails.

Always create or specify an existing resource group before creating the web app.

Using a web app name that is not globally unique.

Web app names must be unique across Azure because they form part of the URL; duplicates cause errors.

Choose a unique name, often by adding random numbers or your initials.

Not specifying the runtime environment when creating the web app.

Without the runtime, Azure cannot set up the correct environment for your app code, causing deployment issues.

Always specify the runtime with the --runtime flag matching your app's language and version.

Summary

Log in to Azure and create a resource group to hold your app resources.

Create an App Service plan to define the pricing and environment for your web app.

Create the web app with a unique name and specify the runtime environment.

Verify the web app is running and accessible.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of creating a web app in Azure?

easy

A. To create databases for applications

B. To store large amounts of data securely

C. To manage virtual machines

D. To make your website or service available online

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of a web app

   A web app hosts websites or services so users can access them online.

2. Step 2: Compare options

   Options relate to storage, virtual machines, and databases, not web hosting.

3. Final Answer:

   To make your website or service available online -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Web app purpose = online availability [OK]

Hint: Web apps host websites or services online [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing web apps with databases
• Thinking web apps manage virtual machines
• Assuming web apps store data only

2. Which Azure CLI command correctly creates a web app named myapp123 in resource group mygroup with plan myplan?

easy

A. az webapp create --name myapp123 --resource-group mygroup --plan myplan

B. az webapp new --app myapp123 --group mygroup --plan myplan

C. az create webapp --name myapp123 --group mygroup --plan myplan

D. az webapp deploy --name myapp123 --resource-group mygroup --plan myplan

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the correct Azure CLI syntax

   The correct command to create a web app is az webapp create with options --name, --resource-group, and --plan.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   az webapp create --name myapp123 --resource-group mygroup --plan myplan matches the correct syntax. Other options use incorrect subcommands like 'new', invalid syntax such as 'az create webapp', or 'deploy' which is for deployment not creation.

3. Final Answer:

   az webapp create --name myapp123 --resource-group mygroup --plan myplan -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Correct CLI command = az webapp create --name myapp123 --resource-group mygroup --plan myplan [OK]

Hint: Use 'az webapp create' with --name, --resource-group, --plan [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using 'az webapp new' instead of 'create'
• Mixing up option names like --app or --group
• Using 'deploy' instead of 'create'

3. What will happen if you run this command?

az webapp create --name myapp123 --resource-group mygroup --plan myplan

Assuming mygroup and myplan exist and myapp123 is unique.

medium

A. A new resource group named mygroup is created automatically

B. The command fails because the app name is not unique

C. A new web app named myapp123 is created in mygroup using myplan

D. The app service plan myplan is deleted

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand command prerequisites

   The command creates a web app if the resource group and plan exist and the app name is unique.

2. Step 2: Analyze the command effect

   Since all conditions are met, the web app named myapp123 is created in mygroup using myplan.

3. Final Answer:

   A new web app named myapp123 is created in mygroup using myplan -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Valid inputs create web app = A new web app named myapp123 is created in mygroup using myplan [OK]

Hint: Valid group, plan, unique name = web app created [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming resource group auto-creation
• Thinking app service plan is deleted
• Believing app name uniqueness is not required

4. You run this command but get an error:

az webapp create --name myapp123 --resource-group mygroup --plan myplan

What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The app service plan myplan does not exist

B. The app name myapp123 is already taken

C. The resource group mygroup is missing

D. The Azure CLI is not installed

Solution

1. Step 1: Check prerequisites for the command

   The resource group and app service plan must exist before creating a web app.

2. Step 2: Identify the most common error

   If the resource group exists but the plan does not, the command fails with an error about the plan.

3. Final Answer:

   The app service plan myplan does not exist -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Missing plan causes error = The app service plan myplan does not exist [OK]

Hint: Check if app service plan exists before creating web app [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming resource group auto-creates
• Ignoring app name uniqueness errors
• Not verifying Azure CLI installation

5. You want to create a web app with a unique name myapp123 in resource group mygroup. The app service plan myplan is in the EastUS region. Which command correctly creates the web app ensuring it uses the same region?

hard

A. az webapp create --name myapp123 --resource-group mygroup --plan myplan --location EastUS

B. az webapp create --name myapp123 --resource-group mygroup --plan myplan

C. az webapp create --name myapp123 --resource-group mygroup --plan myplan --location WestUS

D. az webapp create --name myapp123 --resource-group mygroup --plan myplan --sku B1

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand app service plan location

   The web app inherits the region from the app service plan; specifying location is not needed.

2. Step 2: Analyze command options

   az webapp create --name myapp123 --resource-group mygroup --plan myplan uses the existing plan without location override, ensuring the web app is in EastUS. Adding --location when --plan is specified is invalid and causes errors. Adding --sku B1 is unnecessary and invalid for web app creation.

3. Final Answer:

   az webapp create --name myapp123 --resource-group mygroup --plan myplan -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Web app location = app service plan location [OK]

Hint: Web app location follows app service plan location; no need to specify [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding --location causing conflicts
• Assuming location must be specified again
• Changing SKU without need