API gateway
compound.compound. a single entry point for a group of computer programs that helps manage and direct requests from users. It acts like a gatekeeper that makes sure messages go to the right place and stay secure.
compound. a management tool that sits between a client and a collection of backend services, acting as a reverse proxy to route requests, enforce security policies, and gather telemetry.
The API gateway handles all incoming traffic for the mobile app.
By implementing an API gateway, the engineering team was able to centralize authentication and rate limiting for their entire microservices architecture.
An effective API gateway abstracts the internal complexity of the system, providing a unified interface while managing cross-cutting concerns such as protocol translation and load balancing.
A compound term formed from the initialism API, standing for Application Programming Interface, and the noun gateway. The construction follows the established pattern of using architectural metaphors to describe network routing and access control structures.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Commonly used in the context of microservices and cloud computing architecture.
Last updated July 22, 2026