Web Development Intermediate

What is API Rate Limiting?

A strategy for limiting the number of API requests a client can make within a specified time window to protect server resources.

API rate limiting prevents abuse and ensures fair resource sharing. Common algorithms include fixed window (100 requests/minute), sliding window (smoother distribution), token bucket (allows bursts), and leaky bucket (constant rate).

Rate limits are communicated via HTTP headers: X-RateLimit-Limit, X-RateLimit-Remaining, and Retry-After. Clients should implement exponential backoff when rate limited. API keys or JWT tokens identify clients for per-user limits.

Related Terms

HTTP headers that control cross-origin resource sharing between different domains, specifying allowed origins, methods, and headers.

Static Site Generator (SSG)

A tool that generates a complete static HTML website from templates and content at build time, requiring no server-side processing.

Web Accessibility (a11y)

The practice of designing websites that can be used by people with disabilities, following WCAG guidelines.

The latest HTTP version that uses QUIC instead of TCP, providing faster connections and better performance on unreliable networks.

MVC (Model-View-Controller)

An architectural pattern that separates an application into three components: data (Model), interface (View), and logic (Controller).

A technique for making asynchronous HTTP requests from a web page without reloading the entire page.

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