API Gateway: API Lifecycle Management

An API Gateway is like a traffic conductor for applications that use APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to communicate. It manages the full lifecycle of these APIs—from their creation and deployment to monitoring and maintenance. This includes ensuring security, controlling access, and optimizing performance. By acting as a central hub, it simplifies how applications interact with each other, making them more efficient and easier to manage. Essentially, it provides a systematic way to handle the various stages of an API's existence, ensuring everything runs smoothly and securely.