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Design an API Rate Limiter: Token Bucket, Headers and 429 Responses

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Self-Hosting & Infra advanced 8 min read $0.01 Updated 2026-10-19

Designing API rate limits: fixed window vs sliding window vs token bucket, identity keys (key, user, IP, route), atomic Redis implementation, headers, 429 and Retry-After, cost-weighted limits, distributed correctness, abuse handling and client guidance.

Protect your API without punishing good clients. Choose a token bucket or sliding window, key by the right identity, store counters atomically in Redis, return clear 429s with Retry-After and test bursts.

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