Proxy vs Reverse Proxy

A forward proxy is a server that sits between user devices and the internet. A forward proxy is commonly used for:

• Protect clients
• Avoid browsing restrictions
• Block access to certain content

A reverse proxy is a server that accepts a request from the client, forwards the request to web servers, and returns the results to the client as if the proxy server had processed the request. A reverse proxy is good for:

• Protect servers
• Load balancing
• Cache static contents
• Encrypt and decrypt SSL communications