juniorDevOps
What is a Reverse Proxy?
Updated Apr 28, 2026
Short answer
A reverse proxy sits in front of web servers and forwards client requests to those servers.
Deep explanation
Unlike a forward proxy (which protects clients), a reverse proxy protects servers. It is used for load balancing, SSL termination, caching, and hiding the backend infrastructure's internal IP addresses from the public internet.
Real-world example
Using Nginx to receive all HTTPS traffic on port 443, terminate the SSL certificate, and route the unencrypted HTTP traffic to a Node.js app on port 3000.
Common mistakes
- Confusing a reverse proxy with a standard router or firewall
- reverse proxies operate at the application layer (Layer 7).
Follow-up questions
- What is SSL Termination?