Implementing a rate limiter in Spring Boot to prevent API abuse is a common need,

especially when you want to control how frequently clients can make requests to
your API. Here’s a basic approach to implement a rate limiter:
Steps to Implement Rate Limiting in Spring Boot
1. Choose a Rate Limiting Strategy: Decide on the rate limiting strategy you
want to implement, such as:
○ Fixed Window: Allows a fixed number of requests within a sliding time
window.
○ Token Bucket: Tokens are replenished at a constant rate, and each
request consumes a token.
○ Leaky Bucket: Requests are added to a bucket at a constant rate, and
excess requests are delayed or rejected.
2. Dependency: Include the necessary dependency in your pom.xml or
build.gradle for rate limiting. For example, you might use libraries like Guava or
implement a custom solution using Spring AOP.
3. Implementation:
○ Using Spring AOP: Create an aspect that intercepts API requests.
○ Using Filters/Interceptors: Implement a filter or interceptor that
checks the rate limit before processing requests.
4. Storage for Rate Limits: Use a storage mechanism to keep track of
requests:
○ In-Memory: For simple setups or testing.
○ Database/Redis: For distributed setups where multiple instances of
your application are running.
5. Configuration:
○ Define the rate limit thresholds (e.g., number of requests per
minute) in your application configuration.
○ Configure the expiration time for rate limit counters.
Example using Spring AOP and Guava
Here’s a simplified example using Spring AOP and Guava’s RateLimiter:
1. Dependency (Maven):

xml
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<dependency>
<groupId>com.google.guava</groupId>
<artifactId>guava</artifactId>
<version>31.0.1-jre</version>
</dependency>
2. Aspect Implementation:

java
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@Aspect
@Component
public class RateLimitAspect {
private final RateLimiter rateLimiter = RateLimiter.create(10.0); // 10 requests
per second
@Pointcut("@annotation(com.example.annotations.RateLimited)")
public void rateLimitedMethods() {}
@Around("rateLimitedMethods()")
public Object limitRate(ProceedingJoinPoint joinPoint) throws Throwable {
if (rateLimiter.tryAcquire()) {
return joinPoint.proceed();
} else {
throw new RuntimeException("Rate limit exceeded");
}
}
}
3. Annotation for Rate Limiting:

java
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@Target(ElementType.METHOD)
@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
public @interface RateLimited {
// Optional parameters can be added for more flexibility
}
4. Using the Annotation:

java
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@RestController
public class MyController {
@GetMapping("/api")
@RateLimited
public String apiEndpoint() {
return "API Response";
}
}
Notes:
• Adjust Rate Limits: Modify RateLimiter.create parameters based on your
specific needs.
• Error Handling: Consider how to handle rate limit exceeded errors
gracefully in your application.
• Testing: Test the rate limiting behavior thoroughly to ensure it meets your
requirements.
This approach provides a basic framework for implementing rate limiting in a Spring
Boot application. Depending on your specific use case and scalability requirements,
you might need to customize this implementation further.

https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/spring-security-for-api-rate-limiting/
https://medium.com/@ketan.patel_46870/how-to-implement-rate-limiting-in-spring-
boot-61a4e9924f6e
https://dev.to/jackynote/how-to-implement-rate-limiting-in-spring-boot-apis-using-
aspect-oriented-programming-ehi

· Which algorithms would you use? (Token Bucket vs. Leaky Bucket) · How can Redis
help in rate limiting?
ChatGPT said:
ChatGPT
When implementing rate limiting in a Spring Boot application, choosing between the
Token Bucket and Leaky Bucket algorithms depends on your specific requirements:
Token Bucket vs. Leaky Bucket Algorithms:
1. Token Bucket Algorithm:
○ Operation: Tokens are added to a bucket at a fixed rate.
○ Request Handling: Each request consumes one token from the bucket.
○ Advantages: Allows bursts of requests (up to the bucket capacity)
followed by slower periods.
○ Use Case: Suitable when occasional bursts of traffic are acceptable,
but you want to limit average traffic over time.
2. Leaky Bucket Algorithm:
○ Operation: Requests are added to a bucket at a fixed rate.
○ Request Handling: Requests are processed at a fixed rate (overflowing
requests may be delayed or rejected).
○ Advantages: Smooths out traffic, ensuring a constant rate of request
processing.
○ Use Case: Ideal for scenarios where you want to ensure a constant
rate of processing and prevent sudden bursts of traffic.
Using Redis for Rate Limiting:
Redis can significantly aid in implementing rate limiting by providing a scalable
and efficient storage solution:
1. Key-Value Store:
○ Storage: Use Redis to store and manage rate limit counters
efficiently.
○ Atomic Operations: Redis supports atomic operations, which are
crucial for incrementing counters and checking limits within a single operation.
2. Expiration and TTL:
○ TTL Support: Set a TTL (Time To Live) for keys to automatically
expire rate limit counters after a specified period.
○ Efficiency: Redis handles TTL and expiration internally, relieving
the application from managing cleanup tasks.
3. Distributed Systems:
○ Scalability: Redis can be deployed in a clustered or replicated
setup, ensuring that rate limits are enforced consistently across multiple
instances of your application.
4. Lua Scripting:
○ Complex Rate Limits: Use Lua scripting capabilities in Redis to
implement more complex rate limiting logic that involves sliding windows or
customized behaviors.
Example Redis Implementation:
Here’s a conceptual example of how Redis can be used for simple rate limiting:

java
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@Autowired
private StringRedisTemplate redisTemplate;
public boolean isAllowed(String apiKey) {
String key = "rate_limit:" + apiKey;
Long count = redisTemplate.opsForValue().increment(key, 1);
if (count != null && count == 1) {
redisTemplate.expire(key, 1, TimeUnit.MINUTES); // Set expiry for 1 minute
}
// Assuming a rate limit of 100 requests per minute
return count != null && count <= 100;
}
In this example:
• Each request increments a counter in Redis for a specific API key.
• The counter is set to expire after 1 minute (adjustable based on your rate
limit window).
• Requests are allowed if the count is within the specified limit (100
requests per minute in this case).
Conclusion:
Choosing between the Token Bucket and Leaky Bucket algorithms depends on your
application’s traffic patterns and tolerance for bursts. Redis provides a robust
solution for storing and managing rate limit counters efficiently, making it an
excellent choice for implementing rate limiting in distributed and scalable Spring
Boot applications. By leveraging Redis, you ensure that rate limits are enforced
consistently across multiple instances of your application while maintaining
performance and reliability.