What is the primary function of an API gateway?

The primary function of an API gateway is to act as a single entry point for managing and routing requests. This means it serves as a mediator between clients and backend services, helping to manage communication by directing requests to the appropriate services based on various criteria such as request type, resource, and even the user’s identity. This centralized approach simplifies the architecture by consolidating service access, making it easier to implement cross-cutting concerns such as authentication, logging, monitoring, and load balancing.

While storing user data securely, analyzing API usage trends, and mirroring API performance metrics are important aspects of managing APIs, they do not represent the core function of an API gateway. These activities can be part of the broader API management strategy but do not define the main role of the gateway itself. The gateway’s key purpose is to facilitate efficient communication and control over how APIs are accessed and utilized.