Why is rate limiting important?

What is rate limiting and why is it important?

Rate limiting is a technique used to control the amount of incoming requests to a server. It's important because it helps prevent abuse, ensures fair usage, and maintains the performance of the service.

Can you give me an example of where rate limiting is used?

Sure! Rate limiting is commonly used in APIs to restrict the number of requests a user can make in a given time frame, like 100 requests per hour.

What happens if a user exceeds the rate limit?

If a user exceeds the rate limit, they typically receive an error response, often a 429 Too Many Requests status, indicating they need to wait before making more requests.

How can rate limiting improve security?

Rate limiting can improve security by mitigating DDoS attacks and preventing brute-force login attempts, as it restricts the number of attempts from a single source.