Web Server vs Reverse Proxy

Developers should learn and use web servers to deploy and host web applications, ensuring reliable and scalable delivery of content to users meets developers should use a reverse proxy when deploying web applications to distribute traffic across multiple servers, offload ssl encryption, cache static content, and protect against attacks like ddos. Here's our take.

Web Server

Nice Pick

Developers should learn and use web servers to deploy and host web applications, ensuring reliable and scalable delivery of content to users

Pros

• It is essential for building production-ready websites, APIs, and services, as it handles critical tasks like load balancing, SSL/TLS encryption, and caching
• Related to: http-protocol, nginx

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Reverse Proxy

Developers should use a reverse proxy when deploying web applications to distribute traffic across multiple servers, offload SSL encryption, cache static content, and protect against attacks like DDoS

Pros

• It's essential for high-availability setups, microservices architectures, and scenarios requiring centralized logging or authentication, such as in cloud deployments or containerized environments
• Related to: nginx, apache-http-server

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Web Server if: You want it is essential for building production-ready websites, apis, and services, as it handles critical tasks like load balancing, ssl/tls encryption, and caching and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Reverse Proxy if: You prioritize it's essential for high-availability setups, microservices architectures, and scenarios requiring centralized logging or authentication, such as in cloud deployments or containerized environments over what Web Server offers.

The Bottom Line

Web Server wins

Developers should learn and use web servers to deploy and host web applications, ensuring reliable and scalable delivery of content to users