What is API Gateway?
API Gateway is defined as a server that acts as an entry point for APIs, routing requests, enforcing rate limits, managing security, and aggregating data from backend microservices.
Detailed Architectural Context
An API Gateway handles traffic management between front-end web apps, mobile apps, and back-end database servers or third-party APIs. It acts as a security firewall, handles user session authentication, caches common responses to decrease server load, and protects system endpoints from denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. For AI integrations, the gateway manages rate-limiting constraints to keep OpenAI/Anthropic model usage costs controlled.
Related Technical Terms
REST API
An architectural style for developing APIs that uses standard HTTP requests to GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE data over a network.
GraphQL
An open-source data query and manipulation language for APIs that lets clients request exactly the data they need, and nothing more.
SaaS (Software as a Service)
A cloud-based software licensing model where applications are hosted by a provider and accessed by users over the internet, typically via subscription.
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