What is the difference between a proxy server and a reverse proxy server?
Câu trả lời
The difference between a proxy server and a reverse proxy server lies primarily in their roles and positions within a network architecture.
Proxy Server (Forward Proxy)
A proxy server, often referred to as a forward proxy, acts as an intermediary between client devices and the internet. It handles outbound traffic from clients to external servers. Here are the key characteristics and functions of a forward proxy:
Client Anonymity: It hides the client's IP address, providing anonymity and privacy for the user[1][2][3].
Content Filtering: It can filter and block access to certain websites or content based on predefined rules, often used in corporate or educational environments[2][4].
Caching: It can cache frequently accessed web content to improve load times and reduce bandwidth usage[1][2][3].
Access Control: It enforces access control policies by intercepting and evaluating outbound requests[4][5].
Bypassing Restrictions: It allows users to bypass geo-restrictions and access blocked content by masking their IP addresses[1][2][3].
Reverse Proxy
A reverse proxy, on the other hand, sits between client devices and backend servers. It handles inbound traffic from the internet to internal servers. Here are the key characteristics and functions of a reverse proxy:
Server Anonymity: It hides the details of the backend servers from the clients, providing an additional layer of security[4][5][6].
Load Balancing: It distributes incoming requests across multiple backend servers to optimize resource utilization and improve performance[4][5][6].
SSL Termination: It can handle SSL encryption and decryption, offloading this resource-intensive task from the backend servers[4][5].
Caching: It can cache responses from the backend servers to improve response times for frequently requested content[4][5].
Security: It provides protection against direct attacks on backend servers by acting as a barrier, often used in conjunction with web application firewalls[4][5][6].
