How API Gateways work with Microservices: Examples and Benefits
Blog post from Kong
Microservices architecture allows for the division of applications into task-specific services that can be independently programmed, maintained, and upgraded, enhancing the agility and efficiency of development teams while reducing the risks associated with traditional monolithic structures. This architecture supports parallel development by enabling teams to work on different components simultaneously, improving error detection and minimizing downtime during updates. An API gateway acts as a client-facing front for microservices, managing requests and providing additional functionalities such as authentication, load balancing, and monitoring, thus simplifying the complexity of service interactions. Kong Gateway, an example of such a gateway, offers a platform-agnostic, open-source solution that can grow with applications, supporting both monolithic and microservice architectures, and is compatible with hybrid platforms, including Kubernetes.