API Gateway

Is an extra layer that we add to our architecture and helps as a bridge between the modules that consume an API. Thus, we avoid that the clients send requests directly to the backend. Acting as an intermediary, we can add more functionalities like security, access policies and so on. Thereby, we can be able to centralize all our services in one element, that is all clients will send requests to the API gateway and then the API will be responsible to track the request toward the necessary service.

An API gateway is being a good option and it’s taking a lot of force because the use of microservices has increased. The microservices allow decoupling an application in many services with a flexible structure.

The main fact to use API gateway is about routing function. So, it will be in charge to manage all requests from the clients.

Authentication

An API gateway can be used to authenticate API calls. Thus the client only needs to do one authentication and then will be able to consume the service that needs it.

This reduces the waiting time and ensures the consistency between the processes.

Monitoring and analyzing

Due to all calls using the same gateway, all things happening could be registered. It will be easy to track and record the requests and take action on them.

Use control (Rate limiting)

As it is a single channel of communication, It will be easy to provide a method to limit the requests, maybe to reduce the required performance caused by unlimited traffic.

Benefits

• Greater security in back-end systems.
• Possibility to use access policies.
• Writing of code simplily.
• Waiting time reduction.
• Services access easily and fastly.
• Reduce loading time.

Using a proficiency API gateway will provide your systems more performance, high availability and scalability.