As your application grows from a single server to a complex mesh of microservices, managing how clients interact with your backend becomes a challenge. You don't want your mobile app to know the IP addresses of 50 different microservices. You need a single entry pointβa "Front Door."This front door is the API Gateway.The Problem: Direct Client-to-Microservice Communication#
1.
Complexity: The client must track multiple endpoints (users.api.com, orders.api.com).
2.
Security: Each microservice must implement its own authentication and SSL termination.
3.
Coupling: If you refactor the backend (split one service into two), the client breaks.
4.
Network: Excessive round trips for the client to fetch data from multiple services.
The Solution: The API Gateway#
An API Gateway sits between the clients (Web, Mobile, External Partners) and the backend services. It acts as a reverse proxy, accepting all API calls, aggregating the various services required to fulfill them, and returning the appropriate result.What You Will Learn#
In this chapter, we will explore:Core Concepts: What exactly does a gateway do?
Features: Rate limiting, authentication offloading, and caching.
Architecture: How it differs from a Load Balancer or a Service Mesh.
Patterns: The BFF (Backend for Frontend) design pattern.
Tools: A look at NGINX, Kong, APISIX, and cloud solutions.
Modified atΒ 2025-12-29 04:29:59
