A burst limit controls how many requests an API will accept in a brief period, such as one second or a few milliseconds. It is different from long-term rate limits because it focuses on short spikes rather than overall usage across minutes or hours. If the burst limit is exceeded, requests may be delayed, throttled, or rejected until the system resets.
These limits are used to protect infrastructure from sudden load surges that could harm performance for all users. Burst control ensures that even high-traffic systems remain stable when demand fluctuates. Developers must design their applications to send requests at a pace that respects both burst and sustained rate constraints.
Burst limits matter most in high-frequency environments, like real-time market data, trading automation, or rapid batch processing. Understanding both burst and long-term rate allowances helps developers optimize their workflows and avoid unnecessary errors.
Burst limits keep APIs responsive and reliable by preventing overload. For developers, respecting burst limits ensures smooth integrations, predictable performance, and fewer failed requests.
Standard rate limits define how many requests can be made over a longer period, such as per minute or per hour. Burst limits focus on immediate spikes and control how many requests can be made in a very short timeframe. A system may allow 1000 requests per minute but only 20 requests per second. Understanding both is essential when building applications that send data quickly or in batches.
When burst limits are exceeded, the API may delay responses, return throttling errors, or temporarily reject requests. This can interrupt real-time features, delay data processing, or create gaps in time-sensitive systems like trading bots or monitoring tools. Identifying and correcting burst-related issues prevents unnecessary downtime.
Developers can use request queues, short delays between calls, batching techniques, or asynchronous processing to avoid hitting burst thresholds. Monitoring usage patterns helps identify spike moments, allowing teams to adjust how their applications send requests. Upgrading to higher-tier plans with larger burst allowances may also be necessary for high-frequency workloads.
A trading bot attempts to request market prices 50 times in one second, but the API’s burst limit allows only 20 requests per second. The excess calls result in throttling errors until the next second begins and the burst window resets.
