Description: A rate limiting algorithm is a technique used to control the number of requests a user or client can make to an API within a specified time period. Its primary goal is to prevent resource abuse, ensure service stability, and provide an equitable experience for all users. These algorithms work by setting specific limits, such as the maximum number of requests allowed per minute, hour, or day. When a user exceeds these limits, the algorithm may reject additional requests or return an error message, helping to protect the API infrastructure from overloads and denial-of-service attacks. There are different approaches to implementing rate limiting, such as the token bucket algorithm, the leaky bucket algorithm, and the sliding window algorithm, each with its own characteristics and advantages. The relevance of these algorithms has grown with the increase in the use of APIs in various applications, where efficient traffic management is crucial to maintaining service quality and user satisfaction.
