APIs & Integration
Exponential backoff
A retry strategy that waits progressively longer between repeated attempts.
Example
Retries wait one second, then two, then four, reducing pressure on the failing service.
Why it matters
It reduces pressure on a busy or unavailable service while leaving room for recovery.
You'll hear it
“Wait longer before the next attempt.”
Can you control it?
Set by the team
The people building or running the AI choose this setup. An everyday user generally needs their help to change how this part works.
Common questions
- Does waiting longer guarantee the next attempt succeeds?
- No. A permanent problem still needs correction.
- Why avoid retrying everyone at exactly the same moment?
- A synchronized burst can overload the recovering service again.
- Is backoff useful for an invalid request?
- Usually not. Waiting does not correct missing or unsuitable information.