API Gateway
An API Gateway is an API Management tool that sits between a client and a collection of Back End services. It acts as a reverse proxy to accept all API calls, and forwards them to internal services that can fulfill them.
Exposing internal Microservices externally introduces new problems that will have to be addressed:
- Isolating consumers: No single external party should be able to cause a DoS for other external parties.
- LCM decoupling: It should be possible to LCM internal services, without requiring external parties to switch to new versions at the same time.
- Billing: External parties that use the system more, should pay more. (Pay-per-use).
An API Gateway addresses these problems with: