Introduce RespondOnLimit() vs. OnLimit() methods

README.md

@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ r.Post("/login", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	}
 
 	// Rate-limit login at 5 req/min.
-	if loginRateLimiter.OnLimit(w, r, payload.Username) {
+	if loginRateLimiter.RespondOnLimit(w, r, payload.Username) {
 		return
 	}
 

_example/main.go

@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ func main() {
 		}
 
 		// Rate-limit login at 5 req/min.
-		if loginRateLimiter.OnLimit(w, r, payload.Username) {
+		if loginRateLimiter.RespondOnLimit(w, r, payload.Username) {
 			return
 		}
 

limiter.go

@@ -66,10 +66,10 @@ type RateLimiter struct {
 	mu            sync.Mutex
 }
 
-// OnLimit checks the rate limit for the given key. If the limit is reached, it returns true
-// and automatically sends HTTP response. The caller should halt further request processing.
-// If the limit is not reached, it increments the request count and returns false, allowing
-// the request to proceed.
+// OnLimit checks the rate limit for the given key and updates the response headers accordingly.
+// If the limit is reached, it returns true, indicating that the request should be halted. Otherwise,
+// it increments the request count and returns false. This method does not send an HTTP response,
+// so the caller must handle the response themselves or use the RespondOnLimit() method instead.
 func (l *RateLimiter) OnLimit(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, key string) bool {
 	currentWindow := time.Now().UTC().Truncate(l.windowLength)
 	ctx := r.Context()
@@ -100,7 +100,6 @@ func (l *RateLimiter) OnLimit(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, key string
 
 		l.mu.Unlock()
 		setHeader(w, l.headers.RetryAfter, fmt.Sprintf("%d", int(l.windowLength.Seconds()))) // RFC 6585
-		l.onRateLimited(w, r)
 		return true
 	}
 
@@ -116,6 +115,18 @@ func (l *RateLimiter) OnLimit(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, key string
 	return false
 }
 
+// RespondOnLimit checks the rate limit for the given key and updates the response headers accordingly.
+// If the limit is reached, it automatically sends an HTTP response and returns true, signaling the
+// caller to halt further request processing. If the limit is not reached, it increments the request
+// count and returns false, allowing the request to proceed.
+func (l *RateLimiter) RespondOnLimit(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, key string) bool {
+	onLimit := l.OnLimit(w, r, key)
+	if onLimit {
+		l.onRateLimited(w, r)
+	}
+	return onLimit
+}
+
 func (l *RateLimiter) Counter() LimitCounter {
 	return l.limitCounter
 }
@@ -132,7 +143,7 @@ func (l *RateLimiter) Handler(next http.Handler) http.Handler {
 			return
 		}
 
-		if l.OnLimit(w, r, key) {
+		if l.RespondOnLimit(w, r, key) {
 			return
 		}
 

limiter_test.go

@@ -454,7 +454,7 @@ func TestRateLimitPayload(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 
 		// Rate-limit login at 5 req/min.
-		if loginRateLimiter.OnLimit(w, r, payload.Username) {
+		if loginRateLimiter.RespondOnLimit(w, r, payload.Username) {
 			return
 		}