In what scenario should a user expect to manage rate limiting issues?

Managing rate limiting issues is most relevant during peak traffic periods. Rate limiting is a mechanism employed by APIs, including Stripe’s, to control the amount of incoming requests from users to maintain optimal performance and uptime. When traffic spikes, such as during sales events or promotional peak times, the number of requests to the server can exceed what is typically manageable. As a result, the API may temporarily restrict the number of requests that can be processed in a set time frame, leading to rate limiting errors.

During such peak periods, it's essential for developers to implement strategies to handle this effectively, such as exponential backoff, queuing requests, or notifying users of delays. Understanding this context helps users anticipate and prepare for issues associated with high concurrent requests, ensuring a smoother experience in high-traffic scenarios.