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#Reverse Proxy

A reverse proxy sits in front of web servers.

#Use Cases

  • Load Balancing: Distribute traffic
  • SSL Termination: Handle TLS
  • Caching: Cache static content
  • Security: Hide server details

#Architecture

[Internet] → [Reverse Proxy] → [Web Servers]

#Nginx Reverse Proxy

nginx
1# /etc/nginx/sites-available/app
2upstream backend {
3    server 127.0.0.1:3000;
4    server 127.0.0.1:3001;
5}
6
7server {
8    listen 80;
9    server_name example.com;
10
11    location / {
12        proxy_pass http://backend;
13        proxy_set_header Host $host;
14        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
15        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
16    }
17}

#Popular Reverse Proxies

ToolStrengths
NginxHigh performance, widely used
HAProxyAdvanced load balancing
TraefikCloud native, auto-discovery
CaddyAutomatic HTTPS

[!TIP] Pro Tip: Always set proper headers (X-Real-IP, X-Forwarded-For) when proxying!