What is Nginx rate limiting and how can I implement it?

What is Nginx rate limiting and how can I implement it?

Nginx rate limiting is a feature that controls the number of requests a user can make to your server in a given time frame. You can implement it using the limit_req and limit_conn directives in your Nginx configuration.

Can you give me an example of how to configure it?

Sure! You can add the following lines to your server block:

http {
    limit_req_zone $binary_remote_addr zone=one:10m rate=1r/s;
}

server {
    location / {
        limit_req zone=one burst=5;
    }
}

What does the 'burst' parameter do?

The 'burst' parameter allows a temporary spike in requests. In the example, it allows up to 5 requests to be processed at once, even if the rate limit is set to 1 request per second.

Are there any downsides to using rate limiting?

Yes, while rate limiting can protect your server from abuse, it may also block legitimate users if they exceed the limit, especially during high traffic.