Definition
Throttling is delaying or rejecting requests when usage exceeds limits.
Why it matters
Throttling protects infrastructure costs but can harm user experience if limits are too strict.
Pricing implications
Throttling can be a guardrail for lower tiers. Higher tiers often include higher or no throttling to justify price.
Measurement tips
Track throttling events and customer complaints to tune limits.
Checklist
- Align throttling rules with rate limits by plan.
- Communicate throttling behavior in docs and SLAs.
- Monitor throttled requests and conversion impact.
- Offer upgrade paths for higher limits.
- Avoid silent throttling changes.
- Test throttling impact on key workflows.
- Use throttling data to refine tier thresholds.
- Review throttling quarterly.