What is the practice of limiting API requests to prevent service overload known as?

The practice of limiting API requests to prevent service overload is referred to as rate limiting. This technique is essential in maintaining the stability and performance of an API by controlling the number of requests a user can make in a given timeframe. By implementing rate limiting, service providers can avoid situations where excessive traffic might degrade performance or lead to service outages.

In the context of API management, rate limiting typically involves setting thresholds for how many requests a client can make. This is crucial for ensuring fair usage, protecting resources, and optimizing response times across all users.

API throttling, while it may seem similar, often refers to dynamically adjusting the rate limits based on current server load or other factors, rather than establishing static limits on request rates. Load balancing focuses on distributing incoming traffic across multiple servers to ensure no single server becomes a bottleneck. Queue management involves organizing requests into a waiting line to be processed, rather than limiting their number.