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API Rate Limiting Basics

Protect APIs from overload

This guide covers common rate limiting strategies, token bucket concepts, HTTP headers for limits, client backoff guidance, and monitoring to tune thresholds.

Pick a strategy

Use token bucket or leaky bucket for smoothing; apply per-API key or IP as needed.

Set limits and responses

Define reasonable thresholds and return 429 with Retry-After hints.

Expose headers

Include remaining quota and reset timestamps so clients can adapt.

Monitor and adjust

Track spikes, error rates, and abusive patterns; tune limits and add safelists where justified.

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