API gateway Vs Service Mesh

Service Mesh

To say it simple, it is an IT infrastructure component that features a collection of proxies and aims at streamlining microservice message exchange for your app. Control planes in the service mesh assist the app in storing the data related to communications, in order to boost its performance. 

By directing microservices to perform the data exchange at the internal layer, the service mesh intends to improve internal communication portability.

Unlike the service-to-service communication method for internal services that attaches a code snippets for each message exchange, it does not burden the app with a lot of code. As linked network addresses are likely to be changed very quickly in microservices infrastructure, it is a better choice undoubtedly.

If this path is not taken, the other way is to introduce a code-driven mechanism that will drive the automated discovery to monitor the network change. Both ways will get the job done but will consume more time and effort.

The introduction of service mesh simplifies things at every stage as all the locations and microservices will be automatically detected and data exchange will take place without any hassles.

API gateway

As we all know that APIs are crucial for application development. More than using the right API, its proper management is crucial.

There should be a system that can identify all the incoming calls and direct them to the fitting resources. That’s where you can think of using API gateway. It is the technology handling the task of API client call routing for a suitable application, processing it, and forwarding the resulting response to the client.

Technically speaking, an API gateway is not necessary, while a service mesh is. Afterall, developers can also embed a code for correct request routing. However, doing so consumes a lot of time as code development and insertion should be done for each request, so it still is a suggested component.

Not to forget that such extensive coding has higher possibilities of code errors and risks. Application testing, bug fixing, maintenance, and many other application development stages are elongated than before.

API gateway is a smart solution. Only an API gateway is placed and all the API requests reach their destinations without any diversions. Additionally, the API gateway can do in:

• API request monitoring
• Request balancing in the case of multiple instances
• Moving API requests between nodes

Detailed comparison: API Gateway Vs Service Mesh

Now that you’ve understood the functionality of these both, it’s time to understand the fronts where these two differ from each other. 

• Type of communication handled
  

One takes care of internal discussions while another thinks of external ones. 

The external aspects, which deals with client-side requests in the app, for example - visiting a specific page, placing an order, or connecting with a chatbot, are taken care of and routed by the API gateway. 

On the contrary, service mesh deals with internal communication, for example, a conversation between two microservices from the same app development environment.

In other words, the API gateway is handling the client-to-server conversations. Letting services talk to other services in a streamlined way is service mesh’s responsibility. 

• Placement location 
  

API gateway is necessarily placed on public-facing infrastructure. It may (or may not) include the service mesh in it.

• Management 
  

API gateways are easy to develop and manage. The only deployment will be done once and monitoring/centralization will become seamless. Service mesh deployment is too tedious as it has to be done separately for every app. 

• Observability 
  

While using a API Gateway, one gets the most value from application health tracking. For instance, it can provide data on aspects like time taken by API requests to respond, spot the problematic APIs, applications having problems, and what impacts it causes on the traffic. So, observation your app is easy with it.

On the other hand, with service mesh, it’s easy to spot performance issues. But, it won’t explain what impact it’ll have on end-user experience and response. So, even when the troubleshooting is easy, guaging the impact of problem is tough with it.

• Tools and support availability 
  

In a few hours of research, you will realize that the majority of API gateway resources and tools are paid and are highly compatible with all the popular architectures an app can opt for. There is no dearth of free tools and resources when the service mesh is concerned. 

We have Istio, Envoy, and many more offered at no cost. But, you can’t expect cross-platform compatibility with these pen-resource tools. They work with a specific ecosystem. For instance, Istio works only with Google while AWS App Mesh gets along well with AWS cloud. 

When to use API gateway and Service Mesh Together?

Those who want to use the best of both worlds have a reason to rejoice as it’s feasible to use API gateway and service mesh together. Most of the applications, seeking to streamline communication at an external and internal level, are already using these two technologies together.

You can club these two when your aim is: 

• Have great security scalability
  

Combining both solutions will lead to scalable security. It happens as service mesh improves the inter-service connectivity while the API gateway serves as a centralized point of contact for client-server requests. When one seeks seamless application scalability, API gateway proffers enough technical support required for improving proxy security. It also leads to early threat detection and resolution at the proxy level only.

• Improved innovation 
  

Bringing service mesh and API gateway together promotes innovation as API gateway promotes. Where the effective use of APIs in external interactions improves its compatibility “range”, internal resources optimization is better when a service mesh is deployed. Applications used for or have anything to do with digital revenue and services can be benefitted hugely from these two technologies. 

• Accelerate the digital transformation 
  

Both these resources can fuel the fire of the digital transformation of an enterprise and make the linked application easy to manage. An application using both these two technologies will have a unified API gateway managing the internal service meshes. 

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Conclusion

In a world filled with applications, only those having improved scalability, security, and innovation will manage to rule over the customers’ hearts. API gateway as well as service mesh contribute immensely to all these success-driving factors. We presented to you the key differences between them so that you make most.

While both of them simplify communication, reduce the coding burden, and ensure that the data reaches the allotted destination, they are functionally and structurally different.

Despite the differences, they two get along with each other and lead to better application development. So, bring these two actions and digitally transform your organization in no time. With API gateway providers like Wallarm, configuring the API gateway and using it is easy. You can use them with service meshes easily and enjoy better app development and quick time-to-market.