Which network functionality controls the amount of traffic sent or received as well as the number of API requests within a specified period?

Rate limiting is a technique used in networking and application programming interfaces (APIs) to control the number of requests a user can make to a service within a specified timeframe. This is essential for maintaining optimal performance and availability of resources by preventing excessive use that could lead to resource exhaustion or potential service degradation.

By implementing rate limiting, service providers can ensure fair access to their resources among all users, protect against abuse and denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, and manage traffic flows more effectively. For instance, if an API limits requests to 100 per hour, a user must stay within these bounds, which helps stabilize the service under fluctuating loads.

In contrast, bandwidth allocation focuses on the distribution of network bandwidth to different users or applications rather than managing the rate of API requests. Access control deals with permissions and restrictions regarding who can view or interact with resources, rather than traffic management. Filtering refers to the practice of analyzing and deciding which data packets should be allowed or blocked based on predefined rules, but it does not specifically limit the number of requests or control traffic volume in the way rate limiting does.