What is exponential backoff in APIs?

What is exponential backoff in APIs?

Exponential backoff is a strategy used in APIs to handle retries after a failed request. It involves increasing the wait time between retries exponentially.

Can you give me an example of how it works?

Sure! If a request fails, the first retry might wait 1 second, the second retry 2 seconds, the third 4 seconds, and so on.

Why is exponential backoff preferred over fixed intervals?

Exponential backoff reduces the load on the server during high traffic or failure conditions, preventing further issues.

Are there any downsides to using exponential backoff?

One downside is that it can lead to longer wait times for users if the retries take too long, especially in critical applications.