Understanding Proxy vs. Reverse Proxy: A Simple Guide

Proxy and reverse proxy are important concepts in networking and web communication. Here’s a simple explanation of both:

Proxy:

1. A proxy server acts as an intermediary between a client (like your computer) and the internet.
2. When you send a request to access a website, the request goes to the proxy server first.
3. The proxy server then forwards your request to the website and retrieves the response.
4. It sends that response back to you without revealing your IP address to the website.
5. Proxies can be used for privacy, bypassing restrictions, or caching content for faster access.

Reverse Proxy:

1. A reverse proxy also acts as an intermediary, but it sits in front of web servers.
2. When users send requests to a website, those requests go to the reverse proxy first.
3. The reverse proxy determines which web server should handle the request and forwards it to that server.
4. It then returns the server’s response back to the user, hiding the identity of the web servers.
5. Reverse proxies are used for load balancing, improving security, and caching content.

In summary, a proxy hides the user’s identity while accessing the internet, and a reverse proxy hides the identity of web servers while serving users.