The simplest explanation: it’s a glorified reverse proxy. An API gateway is the “front door” to your backend services and APIs. It acts as an intermediary layer, handling client requests and routing them to the appropriate destinations.
The key characteristics of an API gateway are:
- Request routing and composition
- Authentication and Authorization
- Load balancing
- Rate limiting
- Monitoring
- Caching
Here’s how to build an API gateway in .NET: https://lnkd.in/eH-UtMMT
Practice Verified Codes and Commands:
1. YARP (Yet Another Reverse Proxy) in .NET:
Install YARP via NuGet:
dotnet add package Yarp.ReverseProxy
Configure YARP in `Program.cs`:
var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);
builder.Services.AddReverseProxy()
.LoadFromConfig(builder.Configuration.GetSection("ReverseProxy"));
var app = builder.Build();
app.MapReverseProxy();
app.Run();
2. Ocelot API Gateway in .NET:
Install Ocelot via NuGet:
dotnet add package Ocelot
Configure Ocelot in `ocelot.json`:
{
"Routes": [
{
"DownstreamPathTemplate": "/api/{everything}",
"DownstreamScheme": "http",
"DownstreamHostAndPorts": [
{
"Host": "localhost",
"Port": 5001
}
],
"UpstreamPathTemplate": "/{everything}",
"UpstreamHttpMethod": [ "Get", "Post" ]
}
]
}
3. Nginx as an API Gateway:
Install Nginx on Linux:
sudo apt update sudo apt install nginx
Configure Nginx in `/etc/nginx/nginx.conf`:
http {
server {
listen 80;
location /api/ {
proxy_pass http://backend_server;
}
}
}
4. Envoy Proxy Configuration:
Install Envoy:
sudo apt-get install envoy
Configure Envoy in `envoy.yaml`:
static_resources:
listeners:
- name: listener_0
address:
socket_address: { address: 0.0.0.0, port_value: 8080 }
filter_chains:
- filters:
- name: envoy.filters.network.http_connection_manager
typed_config:
"@type": type.googleapis.com/envoy.extensions.filters.network.http_connection_manager.v3.HttpConnectionManager
stat_prefix: ingress_http
route_config:
name: local_route
virtual_hosts:
- name: backend
domains: ["*"]
routes:
- match: { prefix: "/api" }
route: { cluster: backend_service }
http_filters:
- name: envoy.filters.http.router
What Undercode Say:
API gateways are essential for modern microservices architectures, acting as a centralized entry point for managing, securing, and optimizing API traffic. They simplify client interactions by abstracting the complexity of backend services. Tools like YARP, Ocelot, Nginx, and Envoy provide robust solutions for implementing API gateways, each with unique features tailored to different use cases.
For Linux users, mastering commands like `systemctl` to manage Nginx (sudo systemctl start nginx) or `curl` to test API endpoints (curl http://localhost/api/resource`) is crucial. On Windows, PowerShell commands like `Invoke-WebRequest` (Invoke-WebRequest -Uri http://localhost/api/resource`) can be used for testing.
In cloud environments like Azure, leveraging built-in ingress controllers or services like Azure API Management can further streamline API gateway implementation. Always ensure proper documentation and security practices, such as rate limiting and authentication, to protect your APIs from abuse.
For further reading, explore:
By integrating these tools and practices, you can build scalable, secure, and efficient API gateways that enhance your application’s performance and reliability.
References:
Hackers Feeds, Undercode AI
