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Unified Rate Limits

Understanding API Rate Limits

Rate limits are restrictions imposed by APIs to control the number of requests a client can make within a specified time frame. These limits are crucial for maintaining the stability and fairness of the API service. However, the way rate limits are communicated can vary significantly across different API providers.

Many APIs convey rate limit information through response headers, but there's no universal standard for how this information is presented. This inconsistency can make it challenging for developers to manage rate limits across multiple APIs effectively.

Apideck's Unified Rate Limit Headers

To address this inconsistency, Apideck has introduced a standardized set of headers to communicate rate limit information from downstream APIs. These headers provide a consistent way to access rate limit data, regardless of how the original API presents this information.

The three standardized headers are:

x-downstream-ratelimit-limit
x-downstream-ratelimit-remaining
x-downstream-ratelimit-reset

How It Works

When a downstream API provides rate limit information in its response headers, Apideck maps this data to our standardized headers. This mapping process allows for a uniform representation of rate limit data across various APIs.

For example, let's look at how Salesforce's rate limit information is mapped:

Salesforce returns a single header:

sforce-limit-info: api-usage=18/15000

Apideck maps this to our standardized headers:

x-downstream-ratelimit-limit: 15000
x-downstream-ratelimit-remaining: 14982

Note that in this case, Salesforce doesn't provide information about when the rate limit resets, so the x-downstream-ratelimit-reset header is not included in the response.

Retry-After Header and Rate Limit Reset

Some APIs return a 

retry-after
header to indicate how long a client should wait before making further requests. When this header is present, Apideck computes the reset time using the current datetime and returns it in the 
x-downstream-ratelimit-reset
header as an epoch timestamp.

For example, if an API returns:

Retry-After: 30

Apideck computes the reset time as:

x-downstream-ratelimit-reset: 1718200800

This epoch timestamp represents the moment when rate limits will reset, allowing you to schedule your requests accordingly.

Variability in API Responses

It's important to note that not all APIs provide detailed rate limit information. Some may offer partial data, while others might not include any rate limit headers at all. Apideck strives to unify as much information as possible from various APIs.

If you encounter an API that provides rate limit details that aren't being mapped to our Unified Rate Limit Headers, we encourage you to reach out to us!

Benefits of Unified Rate Limit Headers

  1. Consistency: Developers can rely on a consistent set of headers across all integrated APIs, simplifying rate limit management.

  2. Improved Error Handling: With standardized headers, it's easier to implement robust error handling and retry mechanisms.

  3. Better Resource Management: Accurate rate limit information allows for more efficient use of API resources, preventing unnecessary throttling or service interruptions.

Best Practices for Using Unified Rate Limit Headers

  1. Always Check Headers: Make it a habit to check for the unified rate limit headers in your API responses.

  2. Implement Backoff Strategies: Use the information provided in the headers to implement intelligent backoff strategies when approaching rate limits.

  3. Monitor Usage: Regularly monitor your API usage to ensure you're staying within the prescribed limits.

  4. Plan for Scaling: As your application grows, use the rate limit information to plan for scaling.

Conclusion

Apideck's Unified Rate Limit Headers provide a powerful solution to the challenge of managing diverse rate limit implementations across multiple APIs. By standardizing this crucial information, we enable developers to create more robust, efficient, and scalable applications. As you integrate with various APIs through Apideck, make sure to leverage these headers to optimize your API usage and improve your application's performance.