When a website is subjected to an excessive number of requests within a short period, it triggers the “Too Many Requests” error (HTTP status code 429). This occurs when the server receives more requests than its capacity can handle, leading to network congestion and potential downtime.
Causes of 429 Errors:
1. **Spamming or brute-force attacks**: Automated scripts attempting to guess login credentials or exploit vulnerabilities.
2. **High traffic spikes**: Increased demand for a website’s resources during events, sales, or promotions.
3. **Poorly configured caching mechanisms**: Over-reliance on caching can lead to increased requests, overwhelming the server.
Consequences of 429 Errors:
1. **Limited access**: Users may be temporarily blocked from accessing the website or specific resources.
2. **Server overload**: Repeated excessive requests can cause server crashes or slow performance.
3. **Security risks**: Malicious activity can compromise the website’s security and data integrity.
Prevention Strategies:
1. **Implement rate limiting**: Limit the number of requests from a single IP address within a specified timeframe.
2. **Use caching effectively**: Implement caching mechanisms that balance performance with request limits.
3. **Monitor traffic patterns**: Analyze traffic trends to anticipate and prepare for potential spikes in demand.
Source: https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-rankings-texas-leads-the-way-penn-state-tops-ohio-state-in-preseason-cbs-sports-136