Rate limiting is a mechanism used to prevent abuse of a service by limiting the number of requests that can be made to an API in a given time frame. This helps to ensure that the service remains available and responsive to legitimate users.

Why Use Rate Limiting?

  • Prevent Abuse: Limiting the number of requests helps prevent malicious users from overwhelming the service.
  • Maintain Performance: By controlling the load, rate limiting helps maintain high performance and availability.
  • Fair Usage: Ensures that all users have equal access to the service.

How It Works

Rate limiting can be implemented in various ways, but the basic principle is the same:

  1. Limiting Requests: Set a maximum number of requests that can be made within a certain time frame.
  2. Tracking Requests: Keep track of the number of requests made by each user or IP address.
  3. Enforcing Limits: If the limit is exceeded, either block further requests or throttle them.

Types of Rate Limiting

  • Fixed Window: The same limit is enforced regardless of the time of day.
  • Sliding Window: The limit is enforced over a sliding time window, which can be more flexible.
  • Token Bucket: Allocate a certain number of tokens per time unit, and each request consumes a token.

Common Use Cases

  • API Gateways: Protect your backend services from abuse.
  • Web Applications: Prevent brute force attacks and ensure fair usage.
  • Microservices: Maintain consistency and performance across distributed systems.

More Information

For more detailed information about rate limiting, you can read our comprehensive guide on Rate Limiting Best Practices.

Rate Limiting Example