API Gateway | Load Balancer

What is an API Gateway?

An API Gateway is a sophisticated component designed to manage, route, and orchestrate API requests.

How it works:

• Single Entry Point: API Gateways serve as a unified entry point for all client requests, directing them across multiple services.
• Request Routing: They route requests to the appropriate service based on API endpoints.
• Protocol Translation: API Gateways can convert between different protocols, such as HTTP and WebSocket.
• Backend Integration: They enable communication with various backends, including microservices, serverless functions, and databases.

Additional Functionalities:

• Authentication and Authorization: They enforce security policies and authenticate incoming requests.
• Rate Limiting: They limit the number of requests to prevent misuse.
• Caching: They cache responses to improve performance and reduce the load on backend services.
• Analytics and Monitoring: They provide insights into API usage and performance.

What is a Load Balancer?

A Load Balancer is an essential element in distributed computing, responsible for managing the distribution of incoming network traffic across multiple servers.

Here’s how it works:

• Traffic Distribution: The main role of a load balancer is to evenly distribute traffic among servers, ensuring that no single server is overwhelmed. This enhances the availability and reliability of applications.
• High Availability: By spreading traffic, load balancers prevent server overloads and minimize the risk of server failures, ensuring the continuous availability of services.
• Scalability: Load balancers facilitate the scaling of infrastructure by allowing the addition or removal of servers without causing downtime.

Types of Load Balancers:

• Hardware Load Balancers: Physical devices dedicated to load balancing tasks.
• Software Load Balancers: Applications that perform load balancing functions.
• Cloud-Based Load Balancers: Services provided by cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.