Quick definition · 2 min AI term
Rate limit
A rate limit is a cap on how many requests you can make to a service in a short time before it tells you to slow down.
Think of it like
A “please take a number” sign at a busy counter. Ask too fast and you are asked to wait your turn.
Example
Hammer an AI tool with requests and you may hit “rate limit exceeded,” which just means: pause a moment, then continue.
Why it matters
Heavy AI and API use bumps into rate limits constantly. The scary-looking message simply means slow down, not broken.
Where you’ll see it
OpenAI APIevery APIAI coding tools