Microservices and API gateways: Importance and practical applications

In the era of technological development, using applications that integrate with many platforms has become a trend for users. To create those complex applications, developers use a combination of Microservices and API gateways. Let’s explore with BAP Software about Microservices and API gateways, their advantages and disadvantages as well as their practical applications in the field of software development.

1. What are microservices?

Microservices bring many benefits to developers during the application-building process. Source: acropolium.com

Microservices is an architecture used to build distributed applications. These software are divided into small parts, called independent services, capable of exchanging information with each other via protocols, typically HTTP.

There are two types of microservices: Stateful microservices and Stateless microservices.

Stateful microservices often read and remember data stored in the database.
Stateless microservices usually do not store any information but process data directly.

Advantage:

Easy application updates:

In a microservices architecture, each feature is designed and deployed independently. Therefore, when software updates new features, developers can use Microservices to handle that functionality to easily improve the application.

Simplicity:

Developers can focus on developing one or a few services for which they are responsible, without needing to understand the entire system.

Improved fault tolerance:

Microservices are divided into small services. These services can be developed and deployed independently, helping to find and fix errors quickly without disrupting the entire system.

Create opportunities to test different technologies:

When applying microservices to build applications, developers have the flexibility to test many technologies to create different services.

Independent deployment capability:

Microservices are separate modules so they can be deployed independently in any software.

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Disadvantage:

Increase the complexity of communication between services:

Using microservices in software construction will increase the cost of connecting modules, and developers also need to be more careful when handling requests between modules. different.

Requires more resources:

The number of microservices in the application is increasing, so the amount of resources and resources needed to deploy will increase.

Not suitable for small applications:

Microservices are usually only suitable for large applications, but for small applications, deployment will take more time and be more difficult.

2. What is an API gateway?

API gateway is a tool that helps microservices operate efficiently. Source: indusface.com

API gateway is an intermediary gateway connecting to microservices to receive requests from customers and manage, secure, and analyze those requests. An API gateway can be seen as a means or protocol that connects the core components of an application.

API gateway includes many types such as private API, public API, database API, and remote API,…

Advantage:

Limit data transfer rate:

API gateway can throttle or limit data sent by users at a certain time. This increases security, protects clients from technical errors, and prevents overload.

Monitoring support:

API gateway helps monitor and log requests, providing the data needed to drive observability.

High security:

API gateway has certain security rules, which help block malicious requests and prevent attacks from hackers.

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Disadvantage:

Slower application performance:

API gateways create a layer of ports that volumes of data need to pass through, which can slow down software performance, especially when the software is poorly configured.

Low reliability:

API gateway sometimes creates security and reliability risks for the application depending on how the developer uses the gateway.

High using cost:

When using API gateway, users will have to pay for the server and purchase copyright for APIs if working with large systems.

3. Distinguish between Microservices and API gateway

API gateway is an intermediary gateway that connects Microservices with other application services. Source: dashbird.io

Microservices and API gateways are closely related, but they also have many differences. The table below goes over some of the differences between microservices and API gateway architectures:

Microservices	API gateway
Microservices aim to improve application development efficiency by dividing large blocks of code into small pieces.	API gateway aims to connect different features inside and outside the software.
Microservices have higher security.	API gateways have lower security than Microservices, depending on the programmer who writes the code and the API data required.
Building microservices is easier and less time-consuming.	Building an API is quite complicated and time-consuming.
To communicate with microservices outside of the application, an intermediary is required.	APIs can exchange information with each other easily.
Each microservice only connects to a single API.	Each API can connect multiple microservices.

4. The importance of API gateway with Microservices

API gateway helps developers simplify the process of building software. Source: toponseek.com

Microservices play an important role in building complex applications and developing and scaling services within the application. To do this, Microservices need the support of an API gateway, so they have a close relationship with each other.

API gateway helps microservices deal with the complexity of distributed systems

The decentralized nature of microservices means there are many moving parts. Instead of one microservice, developers must monitor hundreds of separate microservices. These microservices tend to be independent, causing complexity to increase exponentially. API Gateway overcomes this complexity with an architectural model that governs all microservices.

API gateway unifies access to decentralized services

API gateway provides a unified domain to consolidate access to all microservices. These microservices can move services to different regions without affecting the user experience.

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API gateway helps deploy resilient microservices

Microservices recover using complex failover algorithms. API Gateway provides resiliency for microservices consistently across all available services.

Accelerate application innovation

API gateways accelerate application innovation by delivering innovative functionality as a reusable service. These services help developers avoid inventing non-core modules and spend time on important code, thereby accelerating software innovation.

Optimize user experience

Microservices can connect to new microservices through API ports that have been optimized for platforms such as mobile devices, laptops, etc. Connecting microservices brings a better experience to users.

5. Application of Microservices and API gateway

Native App is one of the typical practical applications of Microservices. Source: mona.media

5.1. Microservices applications:

Developing Native software:

Programmers can focus on using some important microservices. This makes the software development process easy and fast, helping to launch more Native software.

Support Website API design:

Microservices can improve the performance of groups of services instead of a common application using API, thereby increasing security and helping to build more flexible Web APIs.

Expand and integrate with IoT:

Microservices allow programmers to use many programming languages and different technologies in the same product, thereby creating IoT software.

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Supports access to multiple data sources:

When your application needs to access multiple information sources from different systems, the API gateway can be the hub between those information sources and your application.

Convert data formats between API and application:

API gateway provides information in multiple formats to make data compatible with many different environments.

Optimize performance:

The API gateway can record information such as traffic volume, response time, error frequency, etc. From there, it helps you monitor application activity, and identify and resolve errors. Resolve issues and optimize application performance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Microservices and API gateway are both software development support tools, in which API gateway is considered an intermediary that connects Microservices with customer requirements. Therefore, Microservices and API gateway have an extremely close relationship with each other.

BAP Software is currently a provider of software development solutions that help businesses optimize costs and improve operational efficiency. If your business needs to use this service, please contact us immediately for advice and answers to your questions.