What is ReverseProxy?

A reverse proxy is a server that sits in front of one or more web servers, receives client requests, and then forwards those requests to the appropriate backend server. It acts like a middleman, handling traffic before it reaches the actual website or application.

Let's break it down

  • Server: a computer that provides data or services over a network.
  • In front of: placed between the client (user’s browser) and the real web server.
  • One or more web servers: the actual machines that host the website’s files and run its code.
  • Receives client requests: gets the messages (like “show me this page”) that users send from their browsers.
  • Forwards: sends those messages on to the correct backend server.
  • Middleman: an intermediary that handles things before they reach the final destination.

Why does it matter?

A reverse proxy can improve security, speed, and reliability of a website. It hides the details of your backend servers, balances traffic so no single server gets overloaded, and can cache content to make pages load faster for users.

Where is it used?

  • Load balancing for large e-commerce sites - spreading millions of shopper requests across many servers.
  • Content delivery for streaming services - caching popular videos close to users to reduce latency.
  • Security gateway for corporate intranets - inspecting incoming traffic and blocking threats before they reach internal apps.
  • SSL termination for SaaS platforms - handling encryption/decryption so backend servers can focus on business logic.

Good things about it

  • Enhances performance through caching and compression.
  • Increases reliability by distributing load and providing fail-over.
  • Adds a layer of security, hiding backend IPs and filtering malicious traffic.
  • Simplifies management: you can update backend servers without changing the public address.
  • Enables easy implementation of features like URL rewriting or authentication.

Not-so-good things

  • Introduces an extra point of failure if the proxy itself goes down.
  • Can add latency if not properly configured, especially with heavy processing.
  • Requires additional setup and maintenance expertise.
  • May become a bottleneck under extreme traffic if resources are insufficient.