Service mesh and API management

Service mesh and API management are distinct yet complementary technologies that cater to different aspects of managing microservices and APIs. A service mesh focuses on service-to-service communication, ensuring security, reliability, and observability within microservices architectures, often providing features like automatic Mutual TLS. In contrast, an API gateway serves as a management tool that facilitates client access to backend services, handling traffic from external sources and offering capabilities like API discovery and transformation. While both share overlapping functionalities, they are designed for different purposes, with service meshes handling east-west traffic and API gateways managing north-south traffic. Businesses can benefit from using both, depending on their specific needs and goals, such as scalability, API monetization, or seamless communication across diverse infrastructures. The decision to implement one or both technologies should consider the organization's scale, technical maturity, and desired outcomes, ensuring that any chosen solutions are compatible and optimized to minimize latency while maximizing performance.