Error 429 is a response code in HTTP that indicates the server needs “time to breathe.” Specifically, it is known as a “Rate Limit Exceeded” or “Too Many Requests” error. This happens when the server has received too many requests from a single IP address or user session within a defined timeframe.
This issue often arises when someone is attempting to access data via APIs, downloading large files, or executing actions too frequently, thereby overwhelming the service’s capacity. The common manifestation of this error message is: “Request was rejected due to rate limiting. If you want more, please contact [email protected].”
In practice, this code is sent by the server when it detects that it’s being attacked. The server then asks the sending source to stop for a while to avoid saturation—the server being unable to handle the volume of requests. This mechanism is used to prevent abuse and ensure fair use of the service.
Upon encountering an Error 429, you’re advised to make your request wait before trying again. The exact duration can vary since it depends on the server’s configuration but typically falls between a few seconds and hours, sometimes lasting longer.
Once the specified cooldown period is over, you can try again. It’s important not to exceed the limit in this short window, or you could end up in a loop of errors, making progress harder.
For more frequent access, you might consider reaching out to the service or support team (in this case, via [email protected]). They can either adjust the rate limit considering your use case, which is often given due diligence if it’s an expected part of your legitimate operation, or provide alternative solutions that might fit your needs better such as pagination limit, concurrent use capacity, or providing tools to manage API requests efficiently.
Lastly, it’s good practice to implement error handling in your application that can recognize a 429 response. Typically, you’d want to store this kind of transient error in a queue or retry list and send it again after a period of time to prevent your application from becoming unresponsive due to repeated failed requests.
