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Why Address Slow API Responses?#
Performance issues can tarnish your users’ experience and your site’s reputation.
Tackling slow responses benefits you by:
1. Spotting delays: Quickly identify slow API calls.
2. Improving efficiency: Pinpoint bottlenecks and optimize them.
3. Streamlining integrations: Eliminate glitches for smoother operations.
4. Boosting user satisfaction: Faster responses equal happier users.
The Concept: Benchmarking API Performance#
To detect slow responses, we use a custom ActionFilterAttribute that tracks how long each API request takes.
If a response exceeds the predefined threshold, we log it for analysis.
How It Works:
- Track the start time when the API action begins.
- Measure the elapsed time once the action is completed.
- Log any responses that exceed the defined threshold.
This approach ensures efficient monitoring without adding unnecessary overhead.
Step 1: Implementing the API Performance Tracking Filter#
Here’s the code for a custom filter to monitor API performance:
For our filter to function effectively, we'll integrate specific components:
- Stopwatch: Enables precise time measurement between the start and end of actions.
- HttpContext.Current.Items: Useful for temporarily storing the Stopwatch.
- Logger: Essential for recording details of slow requests.
- Configurable parameters: ProfilingModeEnabled and SlowResponseMinTimeInMilliseconds.
Here, ProfilingModeEnabled is a switch for our profiler, while SlowResponseMinTimeInMilliseconds establishes our threshold for a 'slow' request.
Step 2: Applying the Filter#
You can apply this filter to specific API methods or entire controllers.
This flexibility allows targeted performance monitoring.
Example:
Use this attribute wherever you suspect performance issues to start collecting actionable data.
Step 3: Optimizing Logging for Production#
Logging slow responses is critical, but excessive logs in production can overwhelm your system.
Use Serilog to fine-tune logging levels for better performance.
Configure Serilog for Production:
- Navigate to the \config directory.
- Open serilog.config.
- Locate <appSettings>.
- Set the serilog:minimum-level to Warning to log only important events.
Conclusion: Make Your API Fast and Reliable#
Detecting slow responses is just the start.
By implementing this guide, you’ll gain the tools to optimize your API’s performance, delivering a smoother user experience.
Here’s why you should take action now:
- Enhance performance: Speed up your API responses.
- Gain insights: Understand where your site struggles.
- Delight users: Fast sites keep visitors coming back.
Need Help? Contact our expert team for personalized support.
We’ll help you unlock the full potential of your Umbraco website.
Further Reading#
- Explore Phil Haack’s article, HttpModule For Timing Requests, for a deep dive into ASP.NET request timing.
- Check out more performance tips and best practices on our blog.