What is a Reverse Proxy?

A reverse proxy receives client requests before forwarding them to backend servers, often adding security, caching, or load balancing.

The backend’s public front door

A reverse proxy accepts requests on behalf of application servers. It can terminate TLS, route by hostname, compress responses, cache content, and hide internal topology.

One layer, several responsibilities

Because it sits on the request path, its timeouts, headers, health checks, and logging affect every backend. It should be secured and sized as carefully as the applications behind it.