Difference Between API Gateway and Load Balancer

An API Gateway typically operates at the application layer (Layer 7) of the network stack and can provide advanced features such as authentication, rate limiting, caching, and transformation of requests and responses. An API Gateway is used to simplify the management of multiple APIs, ensure security and compliance, and provide a consistent interface for API clients.

In summary, the key differences between an API Gateway and a Load Balancer are:

Function: A load balancer distributes traffic across multiple servers in a system, while an API Gateway manages and routes API requests.

Network layer: A load balancer operates at the transport layer (Layer 4) of the network stack, while an API Gateway operates at the application layer (Layer 7).

Features: A load balancer typically provides basic traffic distribution based on IP addresses and ports, while an API Gateway provides advanced features such as authentication, rate limiting, and caching of API requests and responses.

In some cases, an API Gateway may include a load balancing function to distribute traffic across multiple instances of an API, but the primary function of an API Gateway is to manage and route API requests. A load balancer, on the other hand, can be used to distribute traffic for any type of service, not just APIs.

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