API Gateway Pattern

Definitions

1. A pattern where a single entry point (the gateway) handles cross-cutting concerns for all backend services: authentication, rate limiting, request routing, response aggregation, SSL termination, and API versioning. Clients interact with one URL; the gateway fans out to multiple services. Examples: Kong, AWS API Gateway, nginx.

   In plain English: A single front door for all your APIs that handles security, routing, and rate limiting in one place.

   Example: "The API gateway handles JWT validation, rate limiting, and request routing — individual services don't need to implement any of that."

Related Terms

• Webhook vs. Polling
• Event-Driven Architecture
• Circuit Breaker
• State Machine
• Strangler Fig Pattern
• Event Sourcing
• Hexagonal Architecture
• Pub/Sub
• Bounded Context
• CQRS
• Backend for Frontend
• API Composition
• Micro Frontend
• Service
• Cross-Service