What's the difference between a proxy server and a reverse proxy server?

on

 

A proxy server and a reverse proxy server are both intermediaries that sit between client devices and web servers, but they serve different purposes and operate in different ways. Here's a comparison of the two with examples:

Proxy Server:

  1. Forwarding Requests: A proxy server acts as an intermediary that forwards client requests to web servers. It sits between the client and the server, primarily to provide anonymity, content filtering, and caching.

  2. Client-side: The client (e.g., a user's computer) sends a request to the proxy server, which then forwards the request to the target web server.

  3. Example: Suppose you are in a corporate network, and the company's proxy server is configured to filter out certain websites. When you try to access a blocked website, your request goes through the proxy server. The proxy server may deny your request or allow it, depending on its configuration.

Reverse Proxy Server:

  1. Handling Incoming Requests: A reverse proxy server handles incoming requests from clients and forwards them to the appropriate backend servers. It is placed in front of multiple servers to distribute client requests among them, often for load balancing or security purposes.

  2. Server-side: The client sends a request to the reverse proxy server, which then forwards the request to one of the backend servers.

  3. Example: Consider a popular e-commerce website that uses a reverse proxy server. When users access the website, their requests first go to the reverse proxy server. The reverse proxy server then routes the requests to different backend servers handling product listings, shopping cart management, and user authentication. This distribution ensures that the load is evenly balanced among the backend servers, improving website performance and reliability.

In summary, the key difference lies in the direction of request handling and their intended purposes. A proxy server is used to mediate client requests and is client-side, while a reverse proxy server is used to distribute incoming requests among backend servers and is server-side.

Comments

Post a Comment