📌 Rate Limiter Summary
A rate limiter is a tool or technique used to control how often a particular action can happen in a set period of time. It is commonly used in computer systems to prevent overuse or abuse of resources, such as APIs or websites. By setting limits, it helps maintain system stability and ensures fair access for all users.
🙋🏻♂️ Explain Rate Limiter Simply
Imagine you are at a theme park where only a certain number of people are allowed on a ride every hour. If too many people try to get on at once, some must wait their turn. A rate limiter works the same way by making sure only a specific number of requests or actions can happen in a given time, so everything runs smoothly.
📅 How Can it be used?
A rate limiter can be used in a web application to prevent users from making too many login attempts in a short time.
🗺️ Real World Examples
An online ticket booking system uses a rate limiter to prevent automated bots from making hundreds of ticket purchases in seconds, helping to ensure that real customers have a fair chance to buy tickets.
A social media platform might use a rate limiter to control how many posts or messages a user can send per minute, reducing spam and server load.
✅ FAQ
What is a rate limiter and why is it important?
A rate limiter is a way to control how often something can happen, like how many times you can use a website or an app in a certain period. It is important because it helps prevent systems from getting overloaded or misused, making sure everyone has a fair chance to use the service without it slowing down or crashing.
How does a rate limiter protect websites and apps?
A rate limiter helps protect websites and apps by stopping people or computers from making too many requests in a short time. This keeps the system running smoothly, stops spam, and prevents accidental or deliberate overuse that could make the service unavailable for others.
Can a rate limiter affect my experience when using an online service?
Yes, a rate limiter can affect your experience if you try to do too much at once, like refreshing a page repeatedly or sending lots of messages quickly. Most of the time, you will not notice it unless you go over the set limit, and then you might see a message asking you to wait before trying again. It is there to keep the service reliable for everyone.
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