> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://motivlabs.gitbook.io/janus/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://motivlabs.gitbook.io/janus/quick_start/add_plugins.md).

# Add Plugins

Any API Definition can make use of plugins. A plugin is a way to add functionalities to your definition, like rate limit, CORS, authentication, etc...

In this tutorial we will add a [rate limit](/janus/plugins/rate_limit.md) plugin to our definition.

## 1. Add the plugin

Let's create a file called `rate_limit.json` with our new additions to the API definition. We will create a rate limit rule that we can only send `5 req/m` just for us to play around with it.

```javascript
{
    "name" : "my-endpoint",
    "active" : true,
    "proxy" : {
        "listen_path" : "/example/*",
        "upstreams" : {
            "balancing": "roundrobin",
            "targets": [
                {"target": "http://www.mocky.io/v2/595625d22900008702cd71e8"}
            ]
        },
        "methods" : ["GET"]
    },
    "plugins": [
        {
            "name": "rate_limit",
            "enabled": true,
            "config": {
                "limit": "5-M",
                "policy": "local"
            }
        }
    ]
}
```

Now lets update our API definition:

http -v PUT localhost:8081/apis/my-endpoint "Authorization:Bearer yourToken" "Content-Type: application/json" < rate\_limit.json

curl -X "PUT" localhost:8081/apis/my-endpoint -H "Authorization:Bearer yourToken" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d @rate\_limit.json

Done! Now Janus already reloaded the configuration and the rate limit is enabled on your endpoint.

## 2. Check if the plugin is working

Lets make a few requests to our endpoint and see if the rate limit is working.

http -v GET <http://localhost:8080/example>

curl -X "GET" <http://localhost:8080/example>

You should see a few extra headers on the response of this request:

```
X-Ratelimit-Limit →5
X-Ratelimit-Remaining →4
X-Ratelimit-Reset →1498773715
```

This means the plugin is working properly. Now lets make the same request 4 more times... On the fifth time you should get:

```
Status Code: 429 Too Many Requests

Limit exceeded
```

After 1 minute you should be able to make 5 more requests :)

In the [next part](/janus/quick_start/add_auth.md) we'll learn how to protect our endpoint.