Everything you Need to Know about API Gateways

API gateways are the interfaces that connect an application to the microservices. App developers use these to build, publish, manage, and secure the application program interfaces.

Without an API gateway, the developer will need to connect all the API resources directly with the application on the frontend. This will make it very difficult to manage the responses, execute updates for your business logic, or secure the API.

An API gateway not just simplifies the way developers create and manage APIs, but it also helps boost the security of the application because you can avoid exposing any endpoints to the client. This also minimizes the risks of attacks considerably.

Role of an API Gateway

An API gateway can help you manage any kind of interaction between your mobile app, web app, business website, or IoT devices and the microservices you are offering. Below are some of the common uses of API gateways.

Authentication

You can integrate your API gateway with any third-party authentication service. This helps to add a secure layer of authentication for your applications.

User Management

After a user registers on the website or app and is authenticated, you can use your API gateway to manage the interactions of the user with the website or app. You can define user access based on specific predefined criteria as well. The API gateway will make it much easier for you to decide which type of information the user can access from your API.

Logging and Monitoring

As the API gateway resides between the backend API and the client, you can use it to track all kinds of interactions involving them. This helps you monitor all the activities, as well as keep an eye on the resources available and the response time.

Payload Management

You can use the API gateway to take the request from the user and route it to the designated microservice too. It can get a response in return as well. There can be instances when the response cannot be managed by the frontend. In such cases, the response will be directed to another microservice or a third-party service to get the right response or format. The entire process is completed without exposing any of the complicated logic or API endpoints to the end-user.

Scaling

An API gateway can work to calculate the need for scaling easily by analyzing the frontend as well as backend activities. While not all types of API gateways offer automated scaling, they are usually capable of triggering a service that will take care of that.