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How do API gateways simplify request handling in microservices?
Asked on Nov 16, 2025
Answer
API gateways act as a single entry point for client requests in a microservices architecture, simplifying request handling by managing routing, authentication, and rate limiting. They help streamline communication between clients and multiple microservices, reducing complexity and improving security.
Example Concept: An API gateway consolidates the various endpoints of microservices into a unified interface. It handles incoming requests by routing them to the appropriate service, applying necessary transformations, and aggregating responses if needed. This reduces the need for clients to manage multiple service endpoints directly, enhances security by centralizing authentication and authorization, and improves performance through caching and load balancing.
Additional Comment:
- API gateways can perform protocol translation, converting between different communication protocols.
- They often include features for monitoring and logging requests and responses.
- Popular API gateway solutions include Kong, AWS API Gateway, and NGINX.
- They help enforce consistent policies across all microservices, such as security and throttling.
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