What Is a Rate Limiter Strategy?
A rate limiter strategy is the specific algorithm used to enforce a cap on request volume, such as token bucket, leaky bucket, fixed window, or sliding window. Each balances burst tolerance against smoothness differently, and the choice shapes how clients experience throttling. The limiter rejects or delays requests once the allowance for the window is spent.
Why it matters
Rate limiting protects services from abuse and accidental overload while keeping capacity fair across clients. The chosen algorithm determines whether short bursts are absorbed or clipped, which affects real user experience.
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