Service that manages and routes API requests between clients and backend services. Like a receptionist that directs visitors to the right department and handles basic requests.
Mobile apps send requests through an API Gateway which routes them to appropriate microservices and handles authentication.
All provide a managed front door for APIs (routing, auth, throttling, monitoring). Azure API Management is typically broader (full API lifecycle, developer portal) while AWS/GCP/OCI gateways focus more on request routing and enforcement; AWS also offers a separate full-lifecycle product (AWS API Gateway + AWS Developer Portal patterns, and AWS AppSync for GraphQL).
Explore real-world architectures from our community that use API Gateway: