Service Mesh
A service mesh is an infrastructure layer that manages communication between internal microservices, typically using sidecar proxies deployed next to each service. It provides service discovery, mutual TLS, retries, and observability for east-west traffic without changing application code.
Technical Architecture & Deep-Dive
Tools like Istio and Linkerd inject a proxy alongside every service instance. All internal calls flow through these proxies, which enforce encryption, traffic policies, and telemetry consistently.
A service mesh governs traffic inside your cluster, while an API gateway or edge BFF governs north-south traffic entering from clients and third parties. Most teams consuming SaaS APIs from mobile and web apps need an edge gateway long before they need a mesh.
Key Architectural Benefits
Implement Service Mesh at the Edge
Deploy lightweight API aggregation, edge caching, and secret injection in minutes without Docker containers or complex servers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:Is a service mesh a replacement for an API gateway?
No. A mesh handles internal service traffic, while a gateway handles external client traffic. Large systems often use both.
Related Architecture Concepts
Microservices architecture structures an application as a collection of small, independently deployable services, each owning a single business capability and its data. Services communicate over APIs or messaging, allowing teams to build, scale, and release parts of the system separately.
Mutual TLS (mTLS) is an extension of TLS where both the client and the server present certificates and verify each other during the handshake. It ensures that only trusted clients with valid certificates can connect, providing strong machine-to-machine authentication.
An API Gateway is a single entry point that sits between client applications and backend services. It routes requests, enforces authentication and rate limits, transforms payloads, and aggregates responses so clients talk to one stable endpoint instead of many internal APIs.