A reverse proxy is a type of proxy server that sits between a client and a server and directs client requests to the appropriate server. It is typically used to provide additional security, improve performance, and enable load balancing for servers and web applications.
Reverse proxies work by intercepting client requests and forwarding them to the appropriate server based on rules and configurations that are set up by the administrator. They can be used to protect servers from direct client access, allowing the administrator to control which clients can access which servers and resources.
Some key features and capabilities of reverse proxies include:
Load balancing: Reverse proxies can distribute incoming requests across multiple servers, improving performance and enabling horizontal scaling of servers and applications.
Security: Reverse proxies can provide an additional layer of security by hiding the IP addresses of servers and protecting them from direct client access. They can also be configured to enforce security policies and protocols, such as SSL/TLS encryption.
Caching: Reverse proxies can cache static content, such as images and HTML files, to reduce the load on servers and improve performance.
Protocol conversion: Reverse proxies can convert between different protocols, such as HTTP and HTTPS, allowing clients and servers to communicate using different protocols.
Overall, reverse proxies are a useful tool for improving the security and performance of servers and web applications, and are commonly used in enterprise and corporate network environments.