Init guide environment...
Sits on the client side. Requests go through the proxy to reach the public internet. Used to bypass restrictions and stay anonymous.
Sits on the server perimeter. Internet traffic hits the proxy first before entering the private server network.
Distributes incoming requests across multiple backend servers to prevent overload and ensure high availability.
Stores copies of frequent responses. Returns static content without querying the origin server every time.
graph LR
C[Client Device] --> FP(["Forward Proxy
(Org Network)"])
FP --> I1[Internet]
I1 --> S1[Destination Server]
style FP fill:#12161f,stroke:#84ffff,color:#fff
style C fill:#0d1117,stroke:#84ffff,color:#fff
style I1 fill:#00000033,stroke:#aaa,color:#aaa
style S1 fill:#1a1f2b,stroke:#c6ff00,color:#fff
graph LR
C2[Public User] --> I2[Internet]
I2 --> RP(["Reverse Proxy
(Gateway)"])
RP --> S2[Service A]
RP --> S3[Service B]
style RP fill:#12161f,stroke:#e040fb,color:#fff
style C2 fill:#0d1117,stroke:#84ffff,color:#fff
style I2 fill:#00000033,stroke:#aaa,color:#aaa
style S2 fill:#1a1f2b,stroke:#c6ff00,color:#fff
style S3 fill:#1a1f2b,stroke:#c6ff00,color:#fff
Choose a pattern to see how packets move through the network
Comparison of architecture and operational goals
| Proxy Type | Complexity | Primary Purpose | Visibility | Standard Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward Proxy | Protect Client | Hides IP from Server | VPN, Org Filtering | |
| Reverse Proxy | Protect Server | Hides Server from Client | Nginx, Cloudflare |
| Feature | Forward Proxy | Reverse Proxy |
|---|---|---|
| Client Privacy | Primary Goal | Incidental |
| Server Security | Incidental | Primary Goal |
| SSL Termination | Rare | Common |
| Load Balancing | Rare | Standard |
| Caching | Outbound | Inbound |
| TITLE | FORMAT | LINK |
|---|---|---|
| What is a Reverse Proxy? | Web | Open |
| What is a Forward Proxy? | Web | Open |
| NGINX Reverse Proxy - Documentation & Setup | Web | Open |
| Understanding Proxy, Forward Proxy, and Reverse Proxy | Video | Open |
| Difference between Forward Proxy and Reverse Proxy | Web | Open |
| What is Load Balancing? | DigitalOcean Guide | Web | Open |