> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.wellcomecollection.org/request-for-comments-rfcs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.wellcomecollection.org/request-for-comments-rfcs/012-api_architecture.md).

# RFC 012: API Architecture

## Purpose

This RFC proposes a solution for serving Wellcome Collection APIs from a single domain, `api.wellcomecollection.org`, using AWS API Gateway and CloudFront.

**Last modified:** 2019-01-25T15:26:28+00:00

## Background

Wellcome Collection provides multiple APIs to interact with our data. A single API can be made up of multiple services, providing responses at different endpoints.

Some API endpoints require authentication, while others are public and would benefit from rate limiting.

## Problem statement

In order to provide a consistent location for Wellcome Collection APIs we'd like to serve all APIs from [api.wellcomecollection.org](https://api.wellcomecollection.org).

As of 09/01/2019 we are focusing on serving the `storage` and `catalogue` APIs from `api.wellcomecollection.org`. The `storage` API requires authentication, the catalogue API does not.

We are using [AWS API Gateway](https://aws.amazon.com/api-gateway/) to host our REST APIs and making use of a [private integration](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/apigateway/latest/developerguide/set-up-private-integration.html) to serve requests via an [AWS ECS Service](https://aws.amazon.com/ecs/).

We wish to segregate infrastructure projects into different AWS accounts for simplicity and security. See [RFC: 009-aws\_account\_layout](/request-for-comments-rfcs/009-aws_account_layout.md).

Currently it is not possible to point a [Custom Domain](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/apigateway/latest/developerguide/how-to-custom-domains.html) from one account to another account using API Gateway.

## Proposed Solution

The recommended solution is to use an [AWS CloudFront Distribution](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonCloudFront/latest/DeveloperGuide/distribution-working-with.html) to field requests to `api.wellcomecollection.org` and then use [Custom Origins](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonCloudFront/latest/DeveloperGuide/DownloadDistS3AndCustomOrigins.html#concept_CustomOrigin) to serve requests from API Gateway in other accounts using their own Custom Domains.

See:

![](/files/VJSzlzIhhUcudWOEEyTp)


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