In this article, we will take a high-level look at the differences between an API proxy and an API gateway. When a developer publishes a public API, it’s necessary for that API to have security policies and a way to hide backend logic from API consumers.

Decoupling your API from your backend services allows you to shield your apps from backend code changes, and allows users to call your API without worrying about availability. If changes are being made to an endpoint or if a new version is released, users can continue on without interruption. Additionally, an API proxy or an API gateway can help you easily and uniformly secure your API endpoints. This can add another layer of defense and prevent attackers from infiltrating your system.