Imagine going to your favorite coffee house. Your order is placed, but rather than going straight to the barista you are directed through a clerk who takes care of everything. It’s called a Reverse proxy.
An reverse proxy acts as a barrier between you, the user, and the server. In order to reach the server directly from your browser, the request first makes a pit stop at the proxy. It takes the request and does some work before sending it to server. The server replies to the proxy and gives you the results. You can think of it as the friendliest middleman for web requests.
Why bother? You’ll reap a wealth of rewards. Here are a few of them. Ready?
Digital Fortress Defense: How to shield your digital fortress
DDoS attacks are not new. Imagine them like an influx of customers at your favorite coffee shop. It will cause chaos, and you’ll run out your favorite drink. The reverse proxy acts as bouncers. These reverse proxies detect the traffic, serve as buffers and ensure that servers are not overwhelmed. Like a VIP.
The Turbo Booster for All Your Requests
Have you ever stood in a line to enter your favorite amusement parks, only for the attendants to inform you that there is a special fast-pass option? They are like the online fast-pass. It has this incredible ability known as load balancing. Imagine that you have 5 baristas rather than one who can handle different orders. It distributes the requests among servers, preventing any possible delay. This helps to keep things moving smoothly with less waiting.
It’s Your wish, but it is their command
Asking the cashier to make you the favorite drink will probably result in them making it without any thought. Caching allows Proxies to accomplish something similar. They handle the most popular requests fast. It is not necessary to bother with the main server about something it has already handled recently.
Peek-a Boo Privacy
In addition, reverse proxies add an extra layer of anonymity. Like wearing a hat and sunglasses, proxies can disguise your IP. It is the proxy that appears on the server, not yours. This protects user data from being viewed by others.
Smooth Transition
When you visit a website, do you get that dreaded message saying “Site unavailable”? A proxy can make the transition smoother and less frustrating. In the event that one server needs to be down, another can handle requests. It’s never too late to visit your favorite cafe!
Filtering Out the Noise
Use a filter for tea leaves. They act similarly for web traffic. It filters out all the garbage, whether it’s malicious or unwanted bots. It ensures all the right stuff gets to the main servers, which keeps the operations clean.
Get Authenticated for Extra Benefits
They can act as an access card for VIP members. It checks if you can access certain sections. The proxy will let you in if your credentials are correct. If you don’t have the right credentials, then access is denied.
This expose will be rounded off with an interesting story. Reverse proxy is the equivalent of your personal butler. Butlers can answer the front door, make decisions about who meets the family and run errands. They even know the family preferences so that they are able to move faster. You’re server will be the whole family. Butlers keep everything running without the family having to sweat. And just like that most of your Internet traffic is routed through digital butlers.
It is the fascinating work of reverse proxies that keeps everything ticking along behind-the-scenes. You may not realize it but a combination between safety, efficiency, and speed makes the online world a better place.