What Is a Reverse Proxy?
A reverse proxy is a server that accepts incoming HTTP requests from clients and forwards them to one or more backend servers. Unlike a forward proxy (which acts on behalf of clients), a reverse proxy acts on behalf of servers. Common reverse proxies include Nginx, HAProxy, and Cloudflare. They provide load balancing, SSL termination, caching, compression, and security.
Why Reverse Proxies Matter
Reverse proxies improve performance by caching responses, distributing traffic across multiple backend servers, and handling SSL encryption. For SEO, they can be used to implement redirects, URL rewrites, dynamic rendering for bots, and A/B testing at the infrastructure level without modifying application code.
How Reverse Proxies Work
The reverse proxy receives all incoming requests and routes them based on rules: URL path, headers, or request type. It can serve cached responses directly, modify headers, rewrite URLs, or proxy to different backends. Monitor reverse proxy logs with LogBeast for complete traffic visibility.
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