Safeguarding Node.js APIs: Distributed Rate Limiting for Production Resilience

Rate limiting is essential infrastructure protecting production Node.js APIs from credential stuffing, DDoS attacks, scraping abuse, and unexpected cost explosions—yet it's often deferred until something breaks. This guide shows how to move from simple library-based solutions (express-rate-limit) to Redis-backed distributed systems that scale across multiple server instances while enforcing per-route policies and API key tiers. Understanding algorithm tradeoffs and RFC-compliant implementation prevents scenarios where unthrottled requests crash databases, drain budgets, or degrade service for all customers.