What is the difference between throttling and rate limiting?

What is the difference between throttling and rate limiting?

Throttling and rate limiting are both techniques used to control the flow of traffic to a system. Throttling restricts the amount of data sent over a period, while rate limiting restricts the number of requests a user can make in a given time frame.

Can you give me an example of each?

Sure! An example of throttling is when a video streaming service reduces the quality of the stream if too many users are watching simultaneously. Rate limiting could be seen in an API that allows only 100 requests per minute from a single user.

Why is it important to implement these techniques?

Implementing throttling and rate limiting helps maintain system performance, prevents abuse, and ensures fair usage among users.

Are there any downsides to using these methods?

Yes, potential downsides include user frustration due to slow performance or being blocked from making requests, which can lead to a negative user experience.