API Gateway
A server that acts as an entry point for clients, routing requests to appropriate microservices.
Definition
An API Gateway is a server that acts as the single entry point for all client requests to a backend system, routing requests to the appropriate microservices or backend services. Beyond routing, API gateways provide cross-cutting concerns including authentication and authorization, rate limiting, request/response transformation, SSL termination, caching, logging, and monitoring. API gateways simplify client interactions with complex microservice architectures. Examples include AWS API Gateway, Kong, and NGINX.
Example
“A mobile app makes all requests to api.company.com (the API Gateway), which routes /users to the user service, /orders to the order service, and /payments to the payment service.”
Synonyms
- API proxy
- API entry point
- service gateway
- backend for frontend
Antonyms / Opposites
- direct service access
- no gateway
Images
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Related Terms
- microservices
- rest
- rate-limiting
- load-balancer