API Rate Limiting

API Rate Limiting refers to the restrictions that AI providers place on how frequently you can make requests to their services. These limits protect infrastructure, ensure fair access, and manage costs. Understanding and handling rate limits is essential for building reliable AI applications.

Rate limits are typically expressed as requests per minute (RPM) or tokens per minute (TPM). Limits vary by API provider, account tier, and model. Exceeding limits results in 429 (Too Many Requests) errors that applications must handle gracefully.

Strategies for managing rate limits include: implementing exponential backoff retry logic, using request queuing systems, caching responses when appropriate, batching requests where possible, monitoring usage patterns, upgrading API tiers for higher limits, and distributing load across multiple API keys when permitted. Production applications should always implement robust rate limit handling to maintain reliability.