How do I choose a rate limiting strategy for my API?

How do I choose a rate limiting strategy for my API?

Choosing a rate limiting strategy depends on your API's usage patterns and requirements. What are your main concerns?

I want to prevent abuse but also ensure legitimate users aren't affected.

In that case, you might consider a token bucket or leaky bucket strategy. These allow for bursts of traffic while controlling overall usage.

What are the differences between those two strategies?

The token bucket allows for bursts of requests up to a certain limit, while the leaky bucket processes requests at a steady rate, smoothing out spikes.

Which one is easier to implement?

The token bucket is generally easier to implement and more flexible for varying traffic patterns.