Reusable building block for a pipeline, versioned and self-contained, much like a function: it declares a name, inputs and outputs, and bundles the command, code and environment it runs.
Also called component.
Read more: Microsoft Learn
In the Ultra Transcenders books
Each book explains Azure Machine Learning component in context, with comparison tables and the common traps.
Terms in this definition
- Building Block
A component, possibly reusable, that is put together with others to produce solutions and architectures. Every one is typed and clearly bounded, and it can work together with other building blocks.
- Pipeline
Groups activities logically so that, together, they move and transform data, either one after another or side by side; found in both Azure Data Factory and Microsoft Fabric.
- LIKE
Compares strings with a pattern that can contain the % and _ wildcards. Because it only understands character patterns, searching big volumes of text this way is much slower than using full-text search.
- Azure Machine Learning environment
Versioned asset that pairs a Docker image with a pip or conda specification, so every job or deployment using it gets identical dependencies. You point to it by name plus a version number, or by name with @latest.
- Agents (classic) API
First-generation Foundry Agent Service API, based on threads, messages and runs. It is deprecated, replaced by conversations and responses, and retires on 31 March 2027.
Related terms
- ABB
An Architecture Building Block is a logical description of a component that stays independent of any supplier. Belonging to the Architecture Continuum, it records what the architecture requires and guides how Solution Building Blocks are chosen or built.
- Azure Arc Setup
Connecting a server to Arc becomes a guided job: this optional component sets up the agent for connected machines through a wizard, then leaves an icon in the notification area. Shipped with Windows Server 2025 as a Feature on Demand.
- Azure Site Recovery Provider
Component installed on each Hyper-V host, or on the VMM server where one is used, which registers that server with a Recovery Services vault and manages replication.
- COM
Windows component technology (Component Object Model); since App Service can't register COM components, apps relying on them must run on VMs.
- Hub router
The routing component in every virtual hub that swaps routes with connections, gateways and BGP peers, and that carries traffic between VNets.
- Mono-repo
One repository containing most of a product's source, arranged into component folders at the top level. Microservice architectures are often better served by the opposite, multi-repo approach.
- Non-interactive sign-ins
Sign-ins carried out for a user by a client app or operating system component using an authorisation code or refresh token, with no factor entered by the user. They have their own log, separate from interactive sign-ins, and identical ones are grouped together.
- Power BI service
Power BI's browser-based SaaS component: people publish and share reports and semantic models there, create dashboards and apps, and set up scheduled data refreshes.