public function limit()
    {
        // get limit from config file
        $limit = $this->getMaximumLimit();
        // get the limit from the request if available else get the the default predefined limit from the config file
        if (Input::get('limit') && is_numeric(Input::get('limit'))) {
            $limit = Input::get('limit');
        }

        // validate the limit does not exceed the allowed value
        return $this->validateRequestedLimitValue($limit);
    }