How do I implement the leaky bucket algorithm?

How do I implement the leaky bucket algorithm in my application?

The leaky bucket algorithm is used for rate limiting. You can implement it by maintaining a fixed-size bucket that fills at a constant rate and leaks at a constant rate.

Can you provide a code example for that?

Sure! Here's a simple Python implementation:

class LeakyBucket:
    def __init__(self, capacity, leak_rate):
        self.capacity = capacity
        self.leak_rate = leak_rate
        self.current_level = 0

    def add_water(self, amount):
        self.current_level = max(0, self.current_level - self.leak_rate)
        if self.current_level + amount <= self.capacity:
            self.current_level += amount
            return True
        return False

What are some use cases for the leaky bucket algorithm?

It's commonly used in network traffic shaping, API rate limiting, and controlling the flow of data in various applications.