What is reverse proxy?

A reverse proxy is a server that sits between users and backend servers. It helps direct traffic, keep servers secure, and make things faster. A reverse proxy is a server that sits between client devices (like browsers) and a web server, acting as an intermediary to handle requests from clients and forward them to the appropriate server. The main difference between a reverse proxy and a regular (forward) proxy is that the reverse proxy works on behalf of the server, not the client.

how it works:

1. Client Request: A client (such as a browser) sends a request to a domain, but it doesn't communicate directly with the web server. Instead, it talks to the reverse proxy.

2. Proxy Handling: The reverse proxy receives the request and decides how to handle it. It can forward the request to the appropriate server, based on factors like load balancing, security policies, or caching.

3. Response Back: The server responds to the reverse proxy, which then sends the response back to the client.

Key Functions of a Reverse Proxy:

• Load Balancing: Distributes incoming requests across multiple servers to balance the workload and ensure better performance and reliability.
• Security: Acts as an additional layer of security by hiding the identity of the backend servers and protecting them from direct access.
• Caching: Can cache content to speed up response times by serving cached data for repeated requests.
• SSL Termination: Handles the encryption and decryption of SSL/TLS traffic, offloading that work from the backend servers.
• Compression and Optimization: Compresses content before sending it to clients, optimizing data transfer.

Example :

• Website: If a website is getting lots of traffic, a reverse proxy can distribute requests to different web servers behind it to prevent any one server from being overwhelmed.
• API Gateway: A reverse proxy can aggregate multiple backend services and APIs, making them appear as a single service to the client.
• Content Delivery Networks (CDNs): CDNs use reverse proxies to cache and deliver content more efficiently from servers closer to the user.