Understanding the complexities of an API gateway request involves examining layers from global infrastructure to individual processes, as exemplified by Kong Gateway. Kong functions as a reverse proxy between APIs and consumers, efficiently managing requests through a structured setup involving multiple nodes, consumers, and services. At the node level, Kong employs a master process to initialize configurations and manage worker processes, which handle requests using non-blocking operations to maintain efficiency. These workers, akin to city districts, manage multiple requests simultaneously, utilizing non-blocking I/O modules to avoid performance loss. Additional considerations include Keep-Alive connections to streamline SSL handshakes and timers for scheduled tasks, both of which require careful management to prevent resource inefficiency. This layered approach highlights the intricate processes that make Kong Gateway a robust tool for managing API requests.