A reverse proxy is a server-side component positioned between clients and backend servers. Unlike a standard forward proxy that protects the client, a reverse proxy secures and optimizes the server infrastructure. It serves as the single entry point for all external requests, masking the internal network architecture.
How it works
The proxy intercepts incoming HTTP/HTTPS traffic, handles SSL/TLS termination, and routes requests to specific backend instances based on load or path rules. Once the backend responds, the proxy forwards the data to the client. This process prevents direct exposure of application servers to the public internet.
- Load Balancing: distributing traffic across multiple servers to ensure high availability.
- Caching: serving static assets locally to reduce latency and backend overhead.
- Security: providing a centralized layer for WAF, DDoS mitigation, and authentication.
Common tools include Nginx, HAProxy, Traefik, and Caddy. For instance, Nginx is frequently used to manage microservices via the proxy_pass directive, enabling seamless blue-green deployments by updating routing targets without downtime.