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System Design > Api Gateways > Flashcards

Api Gateways Flashcards

1
Q

What is an API Gateway and why is it used

A

An API Gateway acts as an intermediary between clients and backend services managing requests routing them and handling authentication logging and rate limiting

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2
Q

How does an API Gateway improve security

A

It provides authentication authorization and encryption to protect backend services from unauthorized access

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3
Q

What performance optimizations does an API Gateway offer

A

It includes caching compression and request aggregation to enhance response times and reduce backend load

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4
Q

How does an API Gateway help in a microservices architecture

A

It simplifies management by acting as a single entry point decoupling clients from services and allowing independent service evolution

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5
Q

What is request routing in an API Gateway

A

It directs client requests to the appropriate backend service based on URL patterns and service configurations

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6
Q

How does authentication and authorization work in an API Gateway

A

It verifies client identity using methods like OAuth API keys or JWT and ensures users have correct permissions

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7
Q

What is rate limiting in an API Gateway

A

It controls the number of requests a client can make within a given time to prevent abuse and maintain service stability

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8
Q

How does request transformation work in an API Gateway

A

It modifies incoming requests or outgoing responses such as adding headers changing query parameters or restructuring data

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9
Q

Why is load balancing important in an API Gateway

A

It distributes incoming requests across multiple service instances to ensure even resource utilization and availability

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10
Q

What is caching in an API Gateway

A

It stores responses for frequently accessed resources to reduce backend processing and improve latency

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11
Q

How does logging and monitoring work in an API Gateway

A

It captures request and response logs for tracking debugging and analytics purposes

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12
Q

What is API versioning in an API Gateway

A

It allows multiple API versions to coexist by routing requests to the correct versioned service

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13
Q

How does an API Gateway process a client request

A

It authenticates applies rate limits transforms and routes the request to the appropriate backend service then sends back the response

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14
Q

What are some popular API Gateway tools

A

Some popular tools are NGINX Kong AWS API Gateway Apigee and Traefik each offering unique features

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15
Q

What are the advantages of using an API Gateway

A

It simplifies client interactions enhances security offloads backend complexity and improves scalability

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16
Q

What are the disadvantages of using an API Gateway

A

It can introduce a single point of failure add latency increase complexity and incur higher costs

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17
Q

How does an API Gateway differ from a reverse proxy

A

An API Gateway manages API requests provides authentication rate limiting and transformation whereas a reverse proxy primarily routes traffic

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18
Q

How does an API Gateway differ from a Load Balancer

A

An API Gateway operates at the application layer managing API-specific concerns while a Load Balancer distributes traffic across servers for availability

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19
Q

Why is an API Gateway essential for microservices

A

It abstracts microservices complexity provides a unified interface and facilitates service communication efficiently

20
Q

How does an API Gateway handle GraphQL requests

A

It enables GraphQL support allowing clients to query only the necessary data optimizing performance and reducing payload size

21
Q

What is the difference between an API Gateway and a Service Mesh

A

An API Gateway handles client-to-service traffic whereas a Service Mesh manages service-to-service communication within a microservices architecture

22
Q

How does an API Gateway contribute to scalability

A

It enables load balancing caching and request optimization allowing backend services to scale independently

23
Q

How can an API Gateway help with security compliance

A

It enforces security policies like rate limiting authentication encryption and logging ensuring regulatory compliance

24
Q

How do API Gateways support microservices deployments

A

They route requests manage access handle failures and enable service discovery in dynamic microservices environments

25
Q

How do you secure an API Gateway

A

Security measures include authentication authorization rate limiting TLS encryption and request validation

26
Q

What is the role of an API Gateway in API monetization

A

It enables API access control usage tracking billing and rate limiting to support monetization strategies

27
Q

What are the challenges of implementing an API Gateway

A

Challenges include configuration complexity potential bottlenecks managing failures and handling high traffic loads

28
Q

How do API Gateways handle failures and retries

A

They implement automatic retries circuit breakers and failover mechanisms to maintain reliability

29
Q

What factors should be considered when choosing an API Gateway

A

Factors include scalability security performance integrations ease of management and cost

30
Q

What are the benefits of using a managed API Gateway service

A

Managed API Gateways provide scalability security analytics monitoring and integration with cloud services reducing operational overhead

31
Q

What is an API Gateway

A

An API Gateway manages API requests providing authentication authorization caching rate limiting and request transformation

32
Q

What is a Load Balancer

A

A Load Balancer distributes network traffic across multiple servers to ensure availability and reliability

33
Q

How does an API Gateway differ from a Load Balancer in terms of functionality

A

An API Gateway handles API management tasks like authentication rate limiting and request transformation while a Load Balancer focuses on distributing traffic across multiple servers

34
Q

At which network layer does an API Gateway operate

A

An API Gateway operates at Layer 7 of the OSI model the application layer where it processes HTTP requests

35
Q

At which network layer does a Load Balancer operate

A

A Load Balancer can operate at Layer 4 transport layer handling TCP or UDP traffic or Layer 7 application layer handling HTTP or HTTPS traffic

36
Q

How does request handling differ between an API Gateway and a Load Balancer

A

An API Gateway routes requests based on API endpoints applies transformations and enforces security while a Load Balancer directs traffic based on server health and availability

37
Q

Which component is responsible for securing APIs an API Gateway or a Load Balancer

A

An API Gateway secures APIs by implementing authentication authorization and encryption a Load Balancer does not typically handle security directly

38
Q

Can an API Gateway perform load balancing

A

Yes an API Gateway can distribute requests among backend services but its primary role is API management while a dedicated Load Balancer focuses solely on traffic distribution

39
Q

Which component would you use for balancing traffic across multiple instances of a monolithic application

A

A Load Balancer is best for distributing traffic across multiple instances of a monolithic application

40
Q

Which component would you use for managing API requests for microservices

A

An API Gateway is best for managing API requests for microservices as it provides routing security and request transformation

41
Q

How does an API Gateway enhance microservices communication

A

An API Gateway abstracts microservices complexity provides a unified entry point and manages request routing authentication and rate limiting

42
Q

How does a Load Balancer enhance application performance

A

A Load Balancer enhances performance by distributing incoming traffic evenly across multiple instances reducing server load and preventing failures

43
Q

What is an example of using an API Gateway in an e-commerce platform

A

An API Gateway in an e-commerce platform can route user requests to the User Service orders to the Order Service and products to the Product Service

44
Q

What is an example of using a Load Balancer in an e-commerce platform

A

A Load Balancer in an e-commerce platform can distribute incoming traffic among multiple instances of the product catalog service to prevent overload

45
Q

Can an API Gateway and Load Balancer be used together

A

Yes an API Gateway and Load Balancer can work together where the Load Balancer distributes traffic across multiple API Gateway instances ensuring availability

System Design (8 decks)

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