I’m trying to pull data from an API using jQuery, but I keep running into a 504 gateway timeout error. The same thing happens even when I test the API using Postman, so I don’t think it’s a front-end issue.
What steps can I take to resolve a 504 gateway timeout, especially when the issue seems to be on the server or network side? Any suggestions for debugging or working around this would be really appreciated!
I’ve run into quite a few 504 gateway timeout errors over the years working with APIs, so I feel your pain! When you’re seeing it even in Postman, it’s almost certainly not a front-end issue. It usually means the backend’s taking too long to respond, maybe a slow database query or waiting on another external API. If you’ve got access to backend logs or devs, check how long those operations are taking. Sometimes just optimizing server-side logic or increasing timeout values on your server or gateway (like Nginx or AWS API Gateway) can solve the 504 gateway timeout completely.
Totally agree with @emma-crepeau here. From my experience dealing with 504 gateway timeout errors, one thing that saved me was tweaking the timeout settings on our reverse proxy. Even if your service is alive, Nginx or a load balancer might have a lower timeout limit than your API needs, causing a 504 gateway timeout. Check for config values like proxy_read_timeout or gateway-specific timeouts, they’re often set lower than you’d expect, especially for big data exports or long-running requests. A small bump in those values fixed things for me and saved hours of frustration.
Yep, been there too, @madhurima_sil makes a great point. But if changing server configs isn’t an option, especially with third-party APIs, there’s still hope. When I faced a persistent 504 gateway timeout, I tried sending smaller payloads or filtering data. Breaking a big request into smaller chunks or paginated calls can be a lifesaver. In one project, splitting our API calls into smaller batches took us from constant 504 gateway timeout failures to 100% success, without needing any backend access. Sometimes it’s all about changing how you’re making the request rather than fixing the server.