It is proxy, also known as a proxy or proxy server. It's software that acts to act as an intermediary for client and server over the internet. In the absence of a proxy server, a user can send a request to an entity directly through a server and the server will provide the requested resource directly to the client. While this approach is straightforward to comprehend and implement using proxy services, it may bring advantages in terms greater performance as well as privacy, security and many more. As an additional pass-through layer proxy, it acts as an extra security layer on the internet between clients and servers.

The general collection of server hardware along with the software that is installed for proxy servers is frequently called proxy servers. This article will focus on proxies that are traditionally described as software, and in the context of web servers. This article will give a detailed breakdown of the two primary types: a forward proxy and a reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each type has its own unique usage instance, but they're often confused because of the identical name-based convention.

This article will give you information on what proxies are and what their subtypes are and how they function in common configurations. In this article you will be able to identify the situations in which you can gain from using a proxy and select the right solution between forward proxy and reverse proxy for any situation.

Understanding Forward Proxies

The forward proxy also known in the form of the open proxy, acts as a representative for a client who wishes to make a request via the internet to an original server. In this case, it's the situation that all requests sent by the client should be handled by this forward proxy. A forward proxy, acting in on behalf of the user, will review the request. First, it must determine if the client is permitted to transmit requests through this specific forward proxy. It will then deny any request, or send it on to its server that originally sent it. The client doesn't directly connect to the Internet. It can only reach what the forward proxy allows for it to reach.

The most popular reasons for forward proxy is to improve privacy or security on the internet. A forward proxy uses the internet as a client. In this manner, it may use an alternative IP address in addition to the original IP address.

Depending on how it has been configured and how it is configured forward proxy could offer a number of options. It will allow you to:

• 
  
• 
  Avoid tracking ads.
  
• 
  
• 
  Circumvent surveillance.
  
• 
  
• 
  You can determine limitations based on your geographic area.
  
• 
  

Forward proxies can also be used in systems that provide centralized security and access via permissions, such as in workplaces. When all internet traffic goes through a standard forward proxy, an administrator can permit only a few clients access to the internet, that is blocked by a firewall that is common to all. Instead of keeping firewalls in place for the client layer that can include multiple machines with various configurations and users, the firewall could be put within the layer that forwards proxy-related traffic.

Take note that forward proxies require manual setup for use while reverse proxies could go unnoticed from the customer. Depending on the kind of IP address of a customer is relayed to the server that originated it through forward proxy, privacy and anonymity could be granted or not noticed.

There are many possibilities to look into when it comes to forward proxy choices

• 
  
• 
  Apache A well-known, open-source web server that offers forward proxy capabilities.
  
• 
  
• 
  Nginx is another well-known open source web server that comes with forward proxy features.
  
• 
  
• 
  Squid is an open source forward proxy that uses an HTTP protocol. It doesn't provide a complete internet server. You can refer to our step-by-step guide on how to set up Squid proxy for private connections on Ubuntu 20.04.
  
• 
  
• 
  Dante Forward Proxy that uses the SOCKS protocol rather than HTTP which is more suitable for peer-to-peer. You could also find out how to set up the Dante proxy for private connections on Ubuntu 20.04
  
• 
  

Understanding Reverse Proxies

Reverse proxy acts as a proxy for web servers, which handles the incoming requests of clients for. The web server could comprise a singular server or multiple servers. Additionally, it can serve for application servers, such as Gunicorn. In either scenario the request will be received from a client through the web in general. In the majority of cases the request will go directly to the server with the information the client needs of. Instead, a reverse proxy functions as an intermediary and separates it from direct interaction with the internet's open.

From a client's perspective the experience of interacting with reverse proxy is not any different from interacting with the web server directly. It's the same thing, and the client is unable to tell the difference. The client makes a request for the resource, and it receives it, with no extra configuration needed from the client.

Reverse proxy providers provide features like:

• 
  
• 
  The web server is secured centrally.
  
• 
  
• 
  Directing traffic according to rules that you determine.
  
• 
  
• 
  Additional functions for caching.
  
• 
  

Central security is a benefit of both forward and reverse proxy services, reverse proxy providers provide this benefit only to Web layer servers, but not to the layer that clients use. instead of having firewalls at the layer of web servers that may contain several servers with various configurations, the majority of firewall security lies at the reverse proxy layer. Furthermore, getting rid of the burden of interacting with firewalls as well as communicating requests from clients away from web servers allows them to concentrate on delivering the needs of their clients.

If there are multiple servers that are through a reverse proxy,, the reverse proxy is also responsible for controlling which requests go to which servers. Multiple web servers could be hosting the same resources, providing different types of resources or a mixture of both. They can utilize the HTTP protocol similarly to an ordinary web server, however they may include other protocols for application servers such as FastCGI. You can configure reverse proxy services to redirect clients to specific servers based on the resource requested or to abide by specific guidelines for traffic load.

Reverse proxies can also benefit from their positioning before web servers, by offering caching capabilities. The large static file can be arranged with caching rules to avoid having to call web servers on every request, with some solutions offering an option to serve static assets directly without contacting the web server for any reason. In addition, the reverse proxy can handle compression of these assets.

The popular Nginx web server also functions as an extremely popular reverse proxy service. Even though Apache can also be a reverse proxy option, the Apache web server comes with a reverse proxy which is an additional function for Apache however Nginx was originally designed to and focuses on the reverse proxy feature.

Distinguishing Forward Proxy from reverse Proxy Use Examples

Because "forward" or "reverse" are both associated with an impression of directionality and can lead to misleading comparisons with "incoming" in addition to "outgoing" traffic and vice versa, these labels are often confusing because both types of proxies handle requests and responses. The best way to distinguish between forward and reverse proxy services is to study the specifications of the application you're building.

Reverse proxy can be a valuable tool for the creation of a solution to offer web-based services via the internet. They serve as your web servers when you connect to the internet.

Forward proxy apps are useful for displaying clients for personal usage, or even in a business environment. They are your client's proxy for all communications on the internet.

The practice of segregating by use case rather than focussing on the standard naming conventions makes it easier to prevent confusion.

Conclusion

This article explains what a proxy is along with the two types, namely the forward proxy and the reverse proxy. Practical applications as well as a brief overview of the beneficial features were utilized to differentiate forward proxies and reverse proxies. If you'd like to discover the possibilities of proxies then take a look at our guide on how to configure Nginx as an internet server and reverse proxy for Apache on Ubuntu 20.04. Ubuntu 20.04 server.