Imagine that you have a favorite coffee shop. Imagine that you place your order but, instead of directly going to the baristas, it goes through an automated cashier. This is a Reverse proxy.
Reverse proxy is a middleman between your computer and an internet server. Your request does not hit the server directly, but instead makes a stop at the reverse proxy. The proxy then sends your request to the server after doing some processing. The proxy then sends the response back to the server. The proxy is the middleman who helps you with your web request.
You may ask, “Why bother?” It has a lot of advantages. We’ll dive in to some of these. Ready?
Protecting Your Digital Fortress
Have you heard about DDoS? Imagine a huge crowd of people rushing in at the same time to your local coffee shop, causing chaos and running out of your favourite brew. Here, reverse proxies are bouncers. The reverse proxy detects the flood and acts as a buffer to prevent overloading of the server. You’re getting a VIP entry.
You can now get Turbo-Boosted for your Requests
Do you remember standing in line at an amusement park and then realizing that there was a Fast-Pass? The reverse proxy is the Internet’s fast-pass ticket. Load balancing is an amazing feature. Imagine five baristas, instead of just one, handling orders. To avoid any delays, the proxy sends all requests to different servers. It keeps everything running smoothly and reduces waiting time.
You can Cache if you want to
You’ll probably get the drink you want if you just ask. Caching allows proxies to do the same thing. The proxy remembers popular requests, and they handle them fast. There’s no need to ask the server to process something that it already has done recently.
Privacy Peek-aBoo
The reverse proxy also provides anonymity. Proxy servers can make you appear less identifiable, just like sunglasses or a hat. Instead of seeing your IP address, the server will see that of the proxy. It keeps the user’s data secure and away from prying eye.
The Smooth Transition
Have you ever visited a site only to receive the “Site not available” error message? Proxy servers can replace this disappointment with an easy transition. Even if one of the servers is unavailable for maintenance, other servers can fulfill your requests. You can never miss your favorite coffee shop!
Filtering Noise
Ever used a tea leaf strainer? In a similar way, reverse proxies filter web traffic. Filtering out unwanted content or bots is what reverse proxies do. Double-checking ensures that only good content reaches the server. This keeps operations running smoothly.
Additional Perks: Authentication
The reverse proxy can be used as a member’s card to control access. The reverse proxy verifies that you are allowed access to certain areas. You’re allowed to access the site if you have the correct credentials. The proxy will say “Sorry. Access denied.”
We’ll end this exposé with a short story. Imagine a reverse proxy acting as if it were the butler of a family. He answers the door and decides which family members get to see him. The butler also runs errands for the family. Your server is the family. Butlers ensure that everything is running smoothly for the whole family without them having to break a sweat. These digital butlers are responsible for the majority of your internet traffic.
Reverse proxies do a lot of work behind the scenes. Even if you don’t know it, the combination of speed, safety and efficiency makes online life better.