Definition #
An API Gateway is a centralized entry point that manages, secures, and routes API requests between clients and backend services.
Key Characteristics #
- Protocol translation
- Authentication/authorization
- Rate limiting
- Request/response transformation
- Service discovery
- Circuit breaking
Why It Matters #
Essential for managing complex microservices architectures, providing security, observability, and reliability while abstracting backend complexity from clients.
Common Use Cases #
- Microservices API aggregation
- Legacy system modernization
- Multi-cloud deployments
- B2B partner integrations
- Mobile backend optimization
Examples #
- Amazon API Gateway with Lambda integration
- Kong Enterprise for hybrid cloud
- Apigee Edge for API analytics
- Azure API Management for hybrid integration
- Gloo Edge for Kubernetes
FAQs #
Q: How does an API Gateway differ from a load balancer?
A: While both route traffic, API Gateways handle protocol translation and API-specific concerns.
Q: Can API Gateways perform transformations?
A: Yes - including payload format changes and response filtering.
Q: When is a service mesh needed with API Gateways?
A: For fine-grained service-to-service communication within clusters.