the.com/token bucket
a leaky metaphor that decides whether your packet gets to leave the building.
means a rate-limiting algorithm where tokens fill a bucket at a fixed rate, and each request must consume a token to proceed, or wait.
from emerged in the 1980s from network engineering, designed to enforce traffic shaping in packet-switched networks like early ATM and frame relay systems.
bucket sizecaps how bursty traffic can be
empty bucketmeans requests get throttled or dropped
cousin algorithmleaky bucket smooths instead of allowing bursts
still everywherepowers api rate limits today