Reverse proxies

A reverse proxy is a server or software that sits between clients and servers, intercepting requests from clients before passing them to the server. In contrast to a forward proxy, which sits between clients and the internet, a reverse proxy sits between clients and one or more servers. The main purpose of a reverse proxy is to improve performance, security, and scalability of web applications.

When a client sends a request, it first goes through the reverse proxy. The reverse proxy then routes the request to the appropriate server, based on certain criteria such as load balancing or routing rules. This can help distribute traffic evenly among multiple servers, improving scalability of the application.

Reverse proxies also provide benefits in terms of security. They can act as a shield for the servers, hiding their true identity behind the proxy. This makes it harder for attackers to target specific servers directly. Reverse proxies can also be configured to perform various security-related tasks, such as filtering out malicious traffic or enforcing encryption for all requests.

Another advantage of reverse proxies is that they can cache frequently accessed content. By storing copies of popular web pages on the proxy server, the reverse proxy can serve them faster to clients without having to go back to the server every time. This can significantly reduce latency and improve overall performance.

Overall, reverse proxies are a powerful tool for improving the reliability, security, and performance of web applications. By sitting between clients and servers, they can provide a wide range of benefits that would be difficult to achieve otherwise.