Imagine the coffee shop of your choice. If you want to order coffee, the cashier will handle it for you. The Reverse proxy is used in tech.
Un reverse proxy sits in between you (the user) and the Internet server. It is the proxy that intercepts the request, rather than the server. After completing the work required, it sends the information to the server. The server then responds to the proxy which in turn delivers the goods back to you. Web requests are handled by a friendly intermediary.
Why would you bother with all the trouble? This comes with a slew of benefits. Take a look at a few. Ready?
Digital Fortresses: Protecting Your Digital Fortress
DDoS attack? Imagine that a crowd rushes in your coffeeshop at the exact same time, causing confusion and leaving you with no more of your favorite beverage. They act like bouncers. They can detect this flooding, act as a barrier, and prevent the server from being overwhelmed. The VIP entrance is just like that.
We will Turbo Boost Your Requests
Recall standing in line and realizing there’s an option for a quick-pass at your favourite amusement park? Reverse proxy servers are internet fast-passes. The load-balancing feature is one of their most amazing features. Imagine having five baristas to handle orders, rather than just one. In order to reduce delays, requests are distributed to multiple servers by the proxy. The process runs smoothly.
They will do anything to get you!
When you ask for a popular drink, the cashier is likely to whip one up quickly. Caching allows proxies to achieve a similar effect. They are able to handle requests that they know well and quickly. The main server has already dealt with recent requests.
Peek a Boo Privacy
They also provide anonymity. The same way that wearing sunglasses or a cap makes you harder to recognize, proxies hide your IP address. In this case, your server is shown the proxy’s IP address and not your own. Data is protected from unwanted eyes.
Easy Transition
Did you have the experience of visiting a web page only to be met with “Site not Available” messages? With proxies, you can avoid that frustration and enjoy a seamless transition. It is possible to still process requests even when one server has to go down to perform maintenance. Coffee shops never close!
Filtering noise
Has anyone ever used a strainer for tea? Similar to reverse proxies, they act as filters for website traffic. These filters are designed to filter unwanted content, such as malicious code or bots. By using a double-checking process, only clean data reaches main servers.
You can get extra benefits by Authenticating your tickets.
It can work as a virtual VIP card that allows access to certain sections. It allows you to verify if certain areas are accessible. As long as you have your login credentials, then you are in. If the proxy cannot access your account, it will tell you “Sorry. No access allowed.”
A little tale to end the exposé. Assume that a proxy acts as the family butler. Butlers are responsible for answering the door of the house, deciding who is allowed to visit the family, running errands or even remembering the family’s preferred preferences. This is your server – the family. Butlers are there to make everything run smoothly, without any stress on the family. And that’s how most internet traffic goes.
In the background, reverse proxies are doing a fascinating job. Safety, speed, and eficiency make the internet a safer place, even if we don’t realize it.