What is the function of the Envoy admin API?

The Envoy admin API is specifically designed to provide operators with the ability to manage and introspect the configuration and operational states of the Envoy proxy. This includes features such as retrieving stats, executing health checks, viewing the current configuration, and performing control operations on the proxy. The admin API is essentially a vital tool for monitoring the performance of Envoy in real-time, troubleshooting issues, and making adjustments without needing to restart the service.

By providing these functionalities, the admin API significantly enhances operational observability, allowing for the efficient management of the services and ensuring that Envoy is performing as expected. It serves as a central point for accessing various operational metrics and configurations, essential for maintaining the health and performance of the service mesh ecosystem.