# API Gateway

> Provide centralized API management and routing for microservices

- **Category**: Cloud
- **Subcategory**: gcp
- **Canonical URL**: https://designpattern.fyi/patterns/gcp_api_gateway/

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## Description
The API Gateway pattern provides centralized API management, routing, and transformation for microservices using API Gateway. This includes features like authentication, rate limiting, request/response transformation, and backend routing. It acts as a single entry point for clients while maintaining separation between backend services.


## Use Cases
Use when you need centralized API management or when you want to implement cross-cutting concerns for API calls.





## Trade-offs


### Advantages

- Centralized API management

- Authentication and authorization

- Rate limiting and quotas

- Request/response transformation




### Considerations & Drawbacks

- Single point of failure risk

- Additional infrastructure

- Potential performance bottleneck







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**Reference**: [Original Source](https://cloud.google.com/architecture/hybrid-multicloud-patterns-and-practices)