COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF AMAZON API GATEWAY AND APPLICATION LOAD BALANCER FOR SERVERLESS ARCHITECTURES

Abstract

In the landscape of serverless computing, the selection of infrastructure services profoundly influences the cost efficiency and scalability of modern applications. This technical paper presents a meticulous cost comparison between two pivotal AWS services—Amazon API Gateway and Application Load Balancer (ALB)—specifically emphasizing their applicability to serverless architectures. The study meticulously evaluates the cost structures of each service, considering factors such as request processing, data transfer, and associated features. Amazon API Gateway, tailored for API management, is juxtaposed with the versatile Application Load Balancer, renowned for its traffic distribution capabilities across various backend services, including serverless functions. The comparison delves into the financial implications of integrating with serverless computing services, exploring how protocol support, advanced routing, and security features impact overall costs. Real-world use cases and scenarios are analyzed to provide tangible insights, facilitating informed decision-making for architects, developers, and stakeholders seeking to optimize costs in serverless application development on the AWS cloud. By focusing on cost considerations, this paper aims to empower decision-makers with valuable insights into the economic aspects of utilizing API Gateway and ALB, enabling the creation of cost-effective and scalable serverless architectures tailored to specific application requirements.