How many internet gateways can be attached to a virtual private cloud (VPC)?

A virtual private cloud (VPC) in AWS can have only one internet gateway attached to it. The internet gateway serves as a bridge between the VPC and the internet, allowing instances within the VPC to communicate with the internet and vice versa. This architecture is important for ensuring security and effective routing of traffic.

By design, having a single internet gateway simplifies management and routing within the VPC, while also adhering to AWS best practices for public and private subnets. This allows for resources that need to be accessible from the internet to reach it through that one internet gateway, while resources not intended for public internet access can reside in private subnets.

In this way, the infrastructure is streamlined, and it helps maintain clarity in network management. The ability to attach only one internet gateway ensures that traffic routes correctly and that the network's behavior is predictable, which is essential for both performance and security considerations in cloud architecture.