API Gateway-based System

A API Gateway-based System is a network-based system that provides unified API access (that supports client request routing and backend service integration tasks).

• AKA: API Gateway System, API Management System, API Proxy System.
• Context:
  • It can typically route Client Requests through endpoint mapping and service discovery.
  • It can typically transform API Responses through data format conversion and protocol adaptation.
  • It can typically enforce Security Policys through authentication verification and authorization control.
  • It can typically manage API Traffic through rate limiting and load balancing.
  • It can typically monitor API Usage through request logging and performance tracking.
  • ...
  • It can often facilitate Service Integration through backend composition and data aggregation.
  • It can often provide Cache Management through response caching and cache invalidation.
  • It can often implement Version Control through API versioning and backward compatibility.
  • It can often support Error Handling through error normalization and fallback strategy.
  • It can often enable API Documentation through specification generation and developer portal.
  • ...
  • It can range from being a Simple API Gateway-based System to being a Complex API Gateway-based System, depending on its service integration complexity.
  • It can range from being a Lightweight API Gateway-based System to being a Comprehensive API Gateway-based System, depending on its feature set.
  • It can range from being a Monolithic API Gateway-based System to being a Distributed API Gateway-based System, depending on its deployment architecture.
  • ...
  • It can have Analytics Capability for usage pattern analysis.
  • It can perform Protocol Translation for cross-protocol communication.
  • It can provide Service Orchestration for complex workflow execution.
  • It can be Cloud-Native during containerized deployment.
  • It can be Highly Available during failover scenario.
  • ...
• Examples:
  • API Gateway-based System Types, such as:
    • Cloud-Provider API Gateway-based Systems, such as:
      • AWS API Gateway System for AWS service integration.
      • Azure API Management System for Azure platform service.
      • Google Cloud API Gateway System for Google Cloud function access.
    • Open-Source API Gateway-based Systems, such as:
      • Kong API Gateway System for plugin-based API management.
      • NGINX API Gateway System for high-performance request routing.
      • Tyk API Gateway System for open-source API control.
    • Enterprise API Gateway-based Systems, such as:
      • Apigee API Management System for enterprise-grade API governance.
      • MuleSoft API Gateway System for enterprise integration service.
      • IBM API Connect System for large-scale API lifecycle management.
  • API Gateway-based System Architectures, such as:
    • Deployment Patterns, such as:
      • Edge API Gateway System for perimeter API protection.
      • Microservice API Gateway System for service mesh integration.
      • Hybrid API Gateway System for cloud-on-premises bridging.
    • Specialization Types, such as:
      • Mobile API Gateway System for mobile client optimization.
      • IoT API Gateway System for device protocol translation.
      • Partner API Gateway System for B2B integration service.
  • API Gateway-based System Implementations, such as:
    • Technology Stacks, such as:
      • Kubernetes-Native API Gateway System for container orchestration integration.
      • Serverless API Gateway System for function-as-a-service invocation.
      • Event-Driven API Gateway System for asynchronous message handling.
  • ...
• Counter-Examples:
  • Direct Microservice Access System, which lacks central API management and requires client-side integration with multiple backend services.
  • Simple Load Balancer System, which lacks API transformation capability and primarily provides traffic distribution.
  • Virtual Private Network (VPN) System, which provides network-level access rather than API-level control.
  • Web Application Firewall System, which focuses on security protection rather than service integration.
  • Content Delivery Network System, which optimizes content distribution rather than API management.
• See: API Management Pattern, Backend for Frontend (BFF) Pattern, Microservices Architecture, Service Mesh System, System Integration Pattern.

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