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What Is Rate Limiting?

Rate limiting is a technique used by servers to control the number of requests a client can make within a given time period, protecting the server from overload or abuse.

Impact on data collection

When a scraper exceeds a site’s allowed request rate, it typically receives errors, temporary blocks, or CAPTCHAs. Well-designed scraping systems respect a target site’s limits by pacing requests and distributing them across multiple IPs.

Rate limiting on the API side

Data APIs often apply their own rate limits to customers, capping how many calls can be made per minute or per day, which is a standard way providers protect infrastructure and ensure fair usage across all customers.