API rate limiting defines the maximum number of requests an application is allowed to make within a specific time period, while API throttling is the mechanism used by a cloud service to control or slow down requests when traffic becomes too high. For example, an API may allow 1,000 requests per minute; this is the rate limit. If an application exceeds that limit, the service may throttle the requests by delaying, slowing, or rejecting them, often returning a 429 Too Many Requests response. In simple terms, rate limiting sets the boundary, while throttling enforces or manages that boundary. Understanding both is important when working with Cloud API Rate Limits, especially during bulk operations and Microsoft 365 tenant-to-tenant migrations.
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