The Kong Gateway Rate Limiting plugin is a widely used tool for controlling traffic by setting limits on similar requests, such as those from the same IP address, to prevent server overload and protect against malicious activities like brute force attacks, scrapers, and DDoS attacks. This tutorial details the process of implementing rate limiting using Kong Gateway, starting with creating a simple Node.js Express API server and configuring Kong to act as an API gateway with the Rate Limiting plugin. The tutorial demonstrates configuring request limits on a per-API-key basis and explains the different policies for storing request counters, including local, cluster, and redis options. By using Kong's plugin, users can effectively manage traffic and enhance server protection, with advanced options available for more complex needs. Additional resources and community support are available for users seeking further guidance.