AWS API Gateway is a fully managed service that enables developers to create, publish, maintain, monitor, and secure APIs at any scale. This post covers API Gateway's support for REST, HTTP, and WebSocket APIs, how it integrates with AWS Lambda for serverless backends, authorization options, rate limiting, and API versioning.
AWS API Gateway
- AWS Lambda + API Gateway: No infrastructure to manage
- Support for the WebSocket Protocol
- Handle API versioning (v1, v2,…)
- Handle different environments (dev, test, prod…)
- Handle security (Authentication and authorization)
- Create API keys, handle request throttling
- Swagger / Open API import to quickly define APIs
- Transform and validate requests and responses
- Generate SDK and API specifications
- Cache API responses
Hands-on
Go API Gateway > Choose REST API > click build button > Choose REST > choose New API > put API Name and Endpoint type is Regional > click create API button> choose Actions > Create methods> choose GET > enter > choose Lambda function and check use Lambda Proxy Integration >
Go Lambda function > click create button > choose Author from scratch > put function name ‘lambda-api-gateway-proxy-root-get > Runtime Python> click Create Function button
Go back API Gateway Get method > refresh page > check Use Lambda Proxy Integration> put Lambda function name in Lambda Function text input > click save button
Deploy APIs
Under API Gateway > APIs>Resources> click Actions dropdown > choose Deploy API > Deployment stage > New Stage > Stage name - dev> click Deploy
https://9d4ay2hhu7.execute-api.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/dev
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AWS API Gateway?
AWS API Gateway is a fully managed service that acts as the front door for applications to access backend services, allowing you to create and manage RESTful, HTTP, and WebSocket APIs with built-in features like authentication, throttling, and caching.
How does API Gateway work with AWS Lambda?
API Gateway can trigger Lambda functions in response to HTTP requests, enabling a fully serverless backend architecture where API Gateway handles request routing, authentication, and rate limiting while Lambda executes your business logic.