What are the best practices for throttling in APIs?

What are the best practices for throttling in APIs?

Throttling is essential to manage API usage and ensure fair access. Best practices include setting rate limits, using exponential backoff, and providing clear error messages.

Can you explain what rate limits are?

Rate limits define the maximum number of requests a user can make to an API in a given time frame, helping to prevent abuse.

What is exponential backoff?

Exponential backoff is a strategy for retrying requests after a failure, where the wait time increases exponentially with each attempt.

How can I implement throttling in my application?

You can implement throttling by using middleware in your application that tracks request counts and enforces limits based on your defined rules.

What are some common errors users encounter with throttling?

Common errors include 429 Too Many Requests, which indicates that the user has exceeded their rate limit.