The HTTP 429 Too Many Requests status code signals that a client has exceeded the rate limit of requests allowed by a server API. This safeguard is vi

HTTP 429 Too Many Requests: Learn to Manage Request Limits

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2024-10-22 19:30:02

The HTTP 429 Too Many Requests status code signals that a client has exceeded the rate limit of requests allowed by a server API. This safeguard is vital for preventing abuse of server resources and ensuring service availability

HTTP 429 was first introduced in 2010 in RFC 6585. This was more than a decade after HTTP was first published (RFC 2616), which surprisingly, didn’t include a status code specific for rate limited users.

HTTP 429 errors can be triggered by various situations, such as automated scripts, bots, or even legitimate users making too many requests within a short period. If you encountered an HTTP 429 error, review the scenarios below and see if yours matches up:

Automated scripts and bots: These are often programmed to make many requests to a server, leading to potential data scraping, DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks, or unauthorized access to restricted resources.

Heavy traffic from legitimate users: If an API becomes popular and experiences a high volume of requests, even from legitimate users, it can strain the server and hinder its performance.