# The world’s most adopted
open source API gateway
Loved by developers. Trusted by enterprises.
## Lightweight, fast, and flexible cloud native API gateway
Ultra-lightweight, infinitely scalable NGINX engine with 50K+ transactions per second per node.
Kong Gateway delivers the architectural flexibility you need to operate across any cloud, platform, or protocol.
Configure Kong Gateway natively using an API, web UI, or declarative configuration to manage updates via CI/CD pipelines.
## Why Kong Gateway?
Built for hybrid and multi-cloud, optimized for microservices and distributed architectures.
## Fully automated
- - Automate each phase of the API and microservices lifecycle through declarative configuration.
- - Easily apply proven principles of DevOps and GitOps to bring applications online faster.
## Deployment agnostic
- - Run Kong Gateway in any environment, platform, and implementation pattern — from on-prem to cloud, Kubernetes, and serverless
- - Flexibility to configure Kong Gateway with or without database, and in hybrid or cloud-hosted modes.
## Highly extensible
- - Exercise granular control over your API traffic with out-of-the-box security, authentication, transformation, and analytics plugins.
- - Easily extend Kong Gateway to support unique use cases with custom plugins via Kong's Plugin Development Kit.
## Kubernetes native
- - Configure Kong Gateway the same way as Kubernetes with Kong Ingress Controller.
- - Implement traffic management, transformations, and observability across Kubernetes clusters with zero downtime.
## Leverage the Gateway for data orchestration and transformation
- - Design flexible, granular policy flows
- - Drive internal auth, API mashing, and more data transformation use cases
## Kong Gateway propels enterprise success
Kong is a natural fit for PEXA embarking on the modernization journey. It ticks all the boxes – scalability, security, and self-service – which takes the hassle of managing APIs.
**Reduced Developer Onboarding Time from Days to Hours**
Mercedes-Benz decided to focus on Kong as their recommended choice because it's suitable for both small and large instances providing simple configuration, operation, and monitoring.
Saw an 85% Reduction in Operational Overhead
## Resources
## Kong API Gateway FAQs
What teams ask before putting Kong Gateway in production
What is Kong API Gateway?
Kong Gateway is a lightweight, cloud-native API gateway built on NGINX that helps teams manage API traffic. It provides security, authentication, transformation, and analytics capabilities through plugins. Available in open source, Enterprise, and Kong Konnect offerings, it supports different stages of your API journey.
Why use Kong Gateway for microservices?
Kong Gateway is optimized for microservices and distributed architectures, with support for hybrid and multi-cloud environments. It gives teams granular control over API traffic through plugins and supports declarative configuration to automate the API and microservices lifecycle.
Where can Kong Gateway be deployed?
Kong Gateway can run on-premises, in the cloud, on Kubernetes, and in serverless environments. It supports database-backed and database-free configurations, as well as hybrid and cloud-hosted modes. This flexibility lets you choose a deployment approach that fits your infrastructure.
How does Kong Gateway help secure APIs?
Kong Gateway provides out-of-the-box security and authentication plugins that give you granular control over API traffic. You can also design policy flows to support internal authentication requirements.
Can Kong Gateway be customized for our requirements?
Yes, Kong Gateway can be extended with out-of-the-box plugins and custom plugins using Kong’s Plugin Development Kit. Out-of-the-box plugins are offered for security, authentication, transformation, and analytics, so you can combine existing capabilities with custom functionality for your use case.
Does Kong Gateway support automated configuration and CI/CD workflows?
Yes, Kong Gateway supports declarative configuration so teams can manage updates through CI/CD pipelines and apply DevOps and GitOps practices to their API workflows. You can also configure the gateway through an API or web UI, giving teams flexibility in how they manage changes.
Does Kong Gateway work with Kubernetes?
Yes, Kong Gateway integrates with Kubernetes through Kong Ingress Controller, allowing teams to configure the gateway using Kubernetes-native workflows. It supports traffic management, transformations, and observability across Kubernetes clusters.
Can Kong Gateway transform API data?
Yes, Kong Gateway offers transformation plugins and flexible, granular policy flows for data orchestration and transformation. These capabilities support use cases such as combining APIs and applying data transformations.