Reverse Proxy

A reverse proxy is a server that sits between client devices and backend servers, forwarding client requests to appropriate servers and returning responses. It handles tasks like load balancing, SSL termination, caching, and security filtering to improve performance, reliability, and security for web applications.

Also known as: Reverse Proxy Server, Gateway, Load Balancer, Proxy Server, Web Proxy

Why learn Reverse Proxy?

Developers should use reverse proxies when deploying web applications to manage traffic, enhance security by hiding backend server details, and optimize performance through caching and compression. Common use cases include scaling applications across multiple servers, implementing HTTPS with SSL termination, and protecting against DDoS attacks or malicious traffic.

Learning Resources

• docs: NGINX Reverse Proxy Documentation
• tutorial: Apache HTTP Server Reverse Proxy Guide
• docs: What is a Reverse Proxy? | Traefik Labs
• video: Reverse Proxy Explained in 5 Minutes
• book: NGINX Cookbook by Derek DeJonghe