In constructing sustainable modern applications, microservices and APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) have practically become standard. Microservices are driven by APIs and specify how a consumer (of the API) can interact with and use the underlying service. Microservices are an architectural design that divides an application into small, self-contained, and manageable services/pieces.
APIs are now considered the cornerstone of digital transformation plans for corporations and other organizations. The popularity of APIs has led to an increase in the number of developers using API management tools to expose their APIs for use by both internal and external developers as well as other partners.
Uses of API Gateway Software
You can use an API management tool to:
- Make controlled APIs available for microservices.
- To create APIs, combine many microservices.
- Both internal and external microservices should be secured.
- Expose archival services through current APIs.
- Obtain business insights by using APIs and microservices, among other things.
Benefits of using API Gateway Software
- Microservices Security: By placing a wall in front of an application's backend, an API gateway increases security.
- API authentication: By authenticating API calls, an API gateway adds a second layer of protection that guards against errors, hacks, and data breaches.
- Input Validation: Before the gateway sends an API request to a microservice, input validation makes sure it contains all the required information in the appropriate format.
- Microservices load balancing: An API gateway monitors the requests made to various microservices, distributes the workload among nodes to maximize efficiency, and ensures the application is always accessible.
- Rate restriction: By using rate limitation, an API gateway can control how many API queries a client (or malicious bot) is allowed to send in a given amount of time.
- Microservices caching: API gateways can support microservices caching, which helps optimize API calls. Backend services can be spared unneeded stress by caching API response data.
- Analytics tracking and monitoring for apps: Since an API gateway manages all incoming traffic for an application, it is simple to have the software track visibility, trends, and other information regarding API usage.
Make sure to read about the "Top 10 API gateways for API management to try in 2020".
What distinguishes API management from API gateways?
API management is a comprehensive solution that controls the entire API lifecycle and includes API gateways. In contrast, an API gateway sits in front of APIs, handling, routing, and securing API calls. API gateways can also be thought of as tools for managing APIs.
Building and documenting the API, managing (by implementing security), and consuming are the three critical stages of the API lifecycle (publishing and monetizing your APIs). The control phase of the API lifecycle includes API gateways, which secure APIs and maintain data security.
Learn more about API gateways by checking out this article.
