Rate limiting restricts how many requests a client can make to an API within a time window. Common patterns: fixed window (100 requests per minute), sliding window (smoother distribution), token bucket (burst-friendly). Implement with Redis counters or middleware like express-rate-limit. Return HTTP 429 (Too Many Requests) when limits are exceeded.
glossary2 min read
Rate Limiting Explained
Rate limiting protects APIs from abuse by capping requests per user.
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