Ingress controller vs. API gateway: A comparison

Choosing between an ingress controller and an API gateway for managing access and routing traffic to backend APIs can be complex, as both offer similar functionalities but serve different purposes. An ingress controller is a Kubernetes-native component that routes HTTP/HTTPS and other TCP traffic to the appropriate backend service within a Kubernetes cluster, handling SSL/TLS termination and name-based virtual hosting. It focuses on routing traffic based on criteria like domain names and URL paths, and is exclusive to Kubernetes environments. An API gateway, however, serves as a platform-agnostic entry point for external clients to access applications, providing features like request routing, protocol translation, authentication, rate limiting, and caching. While ingress controllers are ideal for simple routing within Kubernetes, API gateways offer advanced traffic management, security, and analytics capabilities, supporting diverse architectures and protocols beyond HTTP/S. Employing both solutions might be necessary to fully leverage their complementary strengths, particularly if the ingress controller lacks certain API gateway functionalities.

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