Quick Answer
Throttling: limit request rate per client/user (token bucket or sliding window). API Gateway enforces globally. Service-level throttling protects downstream dependencies. Strategies: reject with 429, queue excess requests, degrade to lower-quality responses under load. Communicate limits clearly via headers (X-RateLimit-Limit, X-RateLimit-Remaining, Retry-After). Prioritize paid or critical traffic.
Answer
Protect services from overload. Algorithms: Token Bucket, Leaky Bucket, Fixed Window. Applied at API Gateway or services. Prevents abuse and ensures stability.
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SugharaIQ Editorial Team
Verified Answer
This answer has been peer-reviewed by industry experts holding senior engineering roles to ensure technical accuracy and relevance for modern interview standards.
