Proxy vs Reverse Proxy

A forward proxy is a server that sits between user devices and the internet. A forward proxy is commonly used for:

• • Protect clients
• • Avoid browsing restrictions
• • Block access to certain content

A reverse proxy is a server that accepts a request from the client, forwards the request to web servers, and returns the results to the client as if the proxy server had processed the request. A reverse proxy is good for:

• • Protect servers
• • Load balancing
• • Cache static contents
• • Encrypt and decrypt SSL communications