What is an API Gateway? A Complete Guide | Dreamfactory

An API's main purpose is to allow multiple applications to communicate with one another. However, APIs can easily be made more secure and efficient through API gateways which provide a unified entry point across internal APIs. This unified entry point allows for greater control over user access and helps elevate API security measures like rate limiting while also applying security policies like OAuth or JWT. Plus, API gateways are extremely beneficial for securing microservices.  An API gateway is a centralized service that acts as a front door for managing, securing, and optimizing API traffic between clients and backend services.

Here's the key things to know about API Gateways:

• API gateways serve as intermediaries between clients and backend services, providing a centralized entry point for accessing an organization's APIs.

• They handle crucial elements such as authentication, load balancing, rate limiting, caching, and protocol translation, enhancing the security, scalability, and reliability of API interactions.

• API gateways work by routing requests to appropriate internal microservices, orchestrating workflow, and translating protocols to facilitate seamless communication between clients and services.

• Implementing API gateways offers numerous benefits, including improved scalability, enhanced security, access control, input validation, monitoring capabilities, and optimization of API calls through caching.

• In real-world scenarios, API gateways excel in managing microservices architecture, ensuring security and authentication, facilitating API versioning and lifecycle management, and providing scalable, reliable solutions for API management.

What Is an API Gateway? 

API gateways are API management tools that sit between a client and a collection of backend services. In most cases, "clients" are the apps making the actual API requests, and backend services can include AWS, databases, and web service providers. Because the API gateway sits between the client and backend services, it works to provide a single point of entry for developers to access an organization's APIs. 

An API gateway generally handles elements like:

• Authentication

• Load balancing 

• Rate limiting or limiting latency 

• Caching  

 In addition, API gateways act as a reverse proxy, working to:

• Accept API calls

• Aggregate the various services required to fulfill them

• Return the appropriate result

How Does an API Gateway Work?  

API gateways sit between a user and a collection of microservices and provide three key services. These services include: 

• Request routing: In request routing, an API gateway first receives a new API request. After receiving the request, it turns it into multiple requests. The API gateway then consults a routing map that shows where each request should be sent. Once this is mapped out, the API gateway sends the requests to the appropriate internal microservices. 

• API composition: The API gateway provides workflow orchestration during API composition as it aggregates the requested information from multiple microservices. Data is then bundled and returned to the requestor in composite form. 

• Protocol translation: With protocol translation, API gateways help client requests and microservices communicate with each other by translating those protocols. The gateway works to translate API protocols from what the end-user device uses to the microservice's protocols. For example, if a microservice provides a response in XML, but the request comes in using JSON, the API gateway automatically completes the translation. 

Why are API Gateways Important

API gateways are components of an overall API management solution and offer a variety of benefits to the business and Ecommerce operations that implement them. Implementing API gateways creates an API design that allows for scalable services. In addition, many business operations follow a DevOps approach where developers use microservices to build and deploy apps quickly and efficiently. API gateways come in handy as APIs are one of the most commonly used microservices communication tools.

Additional benefits of implementing API gateways include: 

• Segmenting your backend into microservices architecture can make it easier to manage and maintain each service independently. 

• The security of microservices is enhanced as an API gateway puts a barrier in front of an application's back- and front-end. 

• API gateways provide business operations with more access control via rate limiting, authentication, and more.

• Through authenticating API calls through a single entry point, API gateways provide another security layer that protects against hacks and data breaches.

• APIs are made more secure by ensuring that all requests go through singular endpoints. 

• Input validation ensures that API requests have all the necessary information in the correct format before the gateway passes it along to a microservice. 

• Companies offering services to consumers or other companies can monitor APIs. In order to make this process more efficient, API gateways can handle traffic, monitor usage, and send billing information. 

• API gateways can help optimize API calls through microservices caching. 

• API gateways can create traffic logs that help efficiently monitor and track an app's analytics. 

API Gateway Use Cases

When it comes to managing the interactions between clients, services, and data, API gateways emerge as invaluable tools. Let's delve into some real-world scenarios where API gateways shine:

Microservices Architecture

In a microservices architecture, where applications are broken down into small, independent services, coordinating communication between these services becomes crucial. API gateways serve as the entry point for clients, handling routing, authentication, and load balancing across multiple microservices. For example, in an e-commerce platform, an API gateway can orchestrate requests for product information, inventory status, and customer data from various microservices, presenting a unified interface to the client.

Security and Authentication:

Ensuring secure access to APIs is paramount in today's digital landscape. API gateways provide a centralized location to enforce authentication and authorization policies, protecting sensitive data and preventing unauthorized access. For instance, in a banking application, an API gateway can authenticate users, verify their permissions, and encrypt data transmission, safeguarding against potential security breaches.

API Versioning and Lifecycle Management

As APIs evolve over time, maintaining compatibility with existing clients becomes challenging. API gateways facilitate API versioning and lifecycle management, allowing organizations to introduce changes gradually without disrupting existing integrations. Consider a software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider rolling out updates to its API— an API gateway can route requests to the appropriate API version based on client specifications, ensuring seamless transitions and minimizing downtime.

API Gateways Examples

When it comes to managing APIs effectively, API gateways play a pivotal role in ensuring security, scalability, and reliability. Let's delve into some notable examples of API gateways that have made their mark in the industry.

1. DreamFactory

DreamFactory is an API generation platform that simplifies the process of building, securing, and managing APIs. With features like auto-generated REST APIs, role-based access control, and integration with various databases and services, DreamFactory empowers developers to create powerful APIs with ease.

2. Amazon API Gateway

As part of Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon API Gateway offers a fully managed service for building, deploying, and managing APIs at any scale. With features like built-in security, caching, and throttling, it simplifies the process of creating robust APIs while seamlessly integrating with other AWS services.

3. Apigee

Acquired by Google Cloud, Apigee is a comprehensive API management platform designed to facilitate the development, deployment, and monitoring of APIs. With a range of features including API design, security, analytics, and monetization, Apigee empowers organizations to build secure and scalable APIs while maximizing their value.

4. Azure API Management

Microsoft's Azure API Management provides a scalable and secure gateway for managing APIs hosted on Azure or elsewhere. It offers features such as policy enforcement, monitoring, and developer portals, enabling organizations to streamline API management and enhance developer productivity.

5. Tyk

Tyk is an open-source API gateway and management platform known for its simplicity and ease of use. With support for both cloud and on-premises deployment, Tyk offers features like access control, rate limiting, and analytics, making it suitable for organizations of all sizes.

These are just a few examples of the diverse range of API gateways available in the market today. Whether you're looking for a cloud-native solution like Amazon API Gateway or prefer the flexibility of an open-source platform like Kong, there's no shortage of options to suit your organization's needs.

Getting Started with DreamFactory

Overall, API gateways have the potential to provide many key benefits to any organization. If you're ready to discover how APIs can help elevate your business, DreamFactory is here to help. Register today to start your 14-day trial in our hosted environment, discover DreamFactory's new features and API management platform, and test the user experience for yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions: API Gateways

What is an API gateway?

An API gateway is a centralized service that acts as a front door for managing, securing, and optimizing API traffic between clients and backend services.

What are some common features of API gateways?

Common features of API gateways include authentication, load balancing, rate limiting, caching, protocol translation, request routing, API composition, and security enforcement.

How do API gateways work?

API gateways sit between users and a collection of microservices, providing three key services: request routing, API composition, and protocol translation. They route requests to appropriate internal microservices, aggregate requested information, and translate protocols to facilitate communication between clients and services.

Why are API gateways important?

API gateways offer numerous benefits, including improved scalability, enhanced security, access control, input validation, monitoring capabilities, and optimization of API calls through caching. They play a crucial role in managing microservices architecture, ensuring security and authentication, and facilitating API versioning and lifecycle management.

What are some examples of API gateway tools?

Some examples of API gateway tools include DreamFactory, Amazon API Gateway, Apigee, Azure API Management, and Tyk. These tools provide a range of features for building, securing, and managing APIs at any scale.

How do API gateways contribute to microservices architecture?

In a microservices architecture, API gateways serve as the entry point for clients, handling routing, authentication, and load balancing across multiple microservices. They facilitate communication between services, ensure security and scalability, and streamline API management.

Can API gateways help optimize API performance?

Yes, API gateways can optimize API performance through features such as caching, request routing, and protocol translation. By caching frequently accessed data, routing requests efficiently, and translating protocols as needed, API gateways help minimize latency and improve overall performance.