Rate limiting is an essential technique to control the number of requests a user can send to an application within a specific time frame. It helps protect applications from Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks, ensures fair usage of resources, and maintains the stability and performance of the system. In this article, we will discuss how to implement scalable rate limiting in Java using multiple instances, complete with code examples and Gradle-based development.
Understanding Rate Limiting
Rate limiting works by setting a limit on the number of requests a user can make within a specific time window. When the limit is reached, the user receives an error message or is temporarily blocked from making further requests. There are several algorithms for implementing rate limiting, such as the Token Bucket and Leaky Bucket algorithms.