AWS Application Load Balancer vs API Gateway: Which One is Better?
AWS Application Load Balancer and API Gateway both serve distinct purposes in cloud-based architectures.
In modern cloud-based architectures, managing traffic efficiently and securely is essential. AWS provides two robust solutions for this purpose: Application Load Balancer (ALB) and API Gateway. While both services are powerful, they cater to different needs, making it crucial to choose the right one based on your architecture.
In this article, we’ll compare ALB and API Gateway, their features, key differences, and the scenarios where one may be better suited than the other.
Understanding AWS Application Load Balancer
AWS Application Load Balancer (ALB) operates at Layer 7 of the OSI model, managing HTTP/HTTPS traffic. Its primary role is to distribute incoming traffic to various targets, such as EC2 instances, containers, or IP addresses, based on specific routing rules. Unlike a Classic Load Balancer, ALB supports advanced features like path-based and host-based routing, making it a great choice for microservices architectures.
Key Features of ALB:
- Layer 7 Traffic Management: ALB can inspect incoming…
