Building a Nest.js API That Can Handle Millions of Requests Without Crashing

Scaling a backend to handle millions of requests isn’t just about more servers—it's about smart optimizations. Here’s how you can supercharge your Nest.js API for peak performance under heavy loads!

?? 1. Use Fastify Instead of Express Fastify is a blazing-fast alternative to Express, improving request handling.

npm install --save @nestjs/platform-fastify fastify        

const app = await NestFactory.create<NestFastifyApplication>(
  AppModule,
  new FastifyAdapter(),
);
await app.listen(3000);        

?? 2. Optimize Database Queries

Efficient queries = faster response times. Use indexing & optimize joins.

const activeUsers = await this.userRepository.find({
  where: { isActive: true },
});        

?? 3. Implement Caching (Redis FTW!)

Reduce DB hits by caching frequently accessed data.

npm install --save cache-manager cache-manager-redis-store        

CacheModule.register({ store: redisStore, host: 'localhost', port: 6379 });        

?? 4. Load Balancing Distribute

traffic across multiple instances using Nginx or AWS ELB.

?? 5. Use Asynchronous Operations

Non-blocking I/O improves request handling.

const response = await this.httpService.get(url).toPromise();
return response.data;        

?? 6. Rate Limiting

Prevent abuse & control traffic flow.

ThrottlerModule.forRoot({ ttl: 60, limit: 10 });        

?? 7. Monitoring & Logging

Track performance using Prometheus, Grafana, or Winston logs.

npm install --save winston        

const logger = winston.createLogger({
  transports: [new winston.transports.Console()],
});        

?? Scaling isn’t just about adding servers—it’s about making every request count!

Which of these optimizations do you use in your APIs? Let’s discuss in the comments! ????