A proxy or proxy server is a program that acts acting as an intermediary for client and server on the internet. Without proxy, a user will send a request to resources directly a server, and the server will serve that resource to its user directly. While this is a simple method to grasp and use but using proxies has advantages in the form of greater performance, privacy, security, among other things. In addition to being able to pass through, proxies function as a safeguard to the internet between servers and users.

It is generally accepted that the system of server hardware along with the software for proxy installation is usually referred to as proxy servers. This article will concentrate on the proxy servers that are usually described in terms of software as well as those utilized together with web servers. We will give a synopsis of the two main types of proxies, the forward proxy and the reverse proxy. Each has their own use, which can be confusing because of a similar language.

This article will give you an understanding of what proxies and their subtypes are, as well as their value in a variety of configurations. Through in this post, you'll know what situations that a proxy can be beneficial, and determine the most appropriate option for forward or reverse proxy based on the situation.

Understanding Forward Proxies

Forward proxy also known as an open proxy is a proxy for a client that is trying to connect online to a server. In this case, the whole request sent by the client will be directed by the forward-proxy. The forward proxy, in lieu of the user will examine the request. First, it will check if the client been authorized to transmit requests through this specific forward proxy. It will then deny a application and send it back to its original server. The client is not able to have direct access to the internet. It is able to access only what the forward proxy permits the client to connect.

One of the most common uses for forward proxy is increased privacy or security on the internet. The forward proxy can connect to internet instead of a client. in this process, it uses an alternate IP address that is different from the client's initial IP address.

Based on the way it was set up in accordance with the way it was configured, forward proxy may provide a variety of functions depending on how it is set up, allowing you to:

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  Beware of ad-tracker.
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
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  Find out the restrictions that apply to your location.
  
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Forward proxies can also be used in systems of centralized security and permission -based access, like in workplaces. If all internet traffic flows through an common forward proxy layer, an administrator can limit access for only a select group of users to the internet by a common firewall. Instead of keeping firewalls in place for the client layer which can comprise a variety of computers with different environments and users you can have a firewall located at the layer that forwards proxy traffic.

It is important to remember to remember that forward proxy servers must be set up manually for be used, while reverse proxies are often not noticed by clients. Based on the type of IP address the client, it will be passed to the server that created it via forward proxy, privacy and security may be granted or kept in the dark.

There are many choices to think about for forward proxies

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  Apache The most well-known open source web server offering forward proxy capabilities.
  
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  Nginx: Another well-known open source web server with forward proxy capabilities.
  
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  Squid is an open-source forward proxy which uses the HTTP protocol. It doesn't provide a complete web server application. It is possible to read our guide on how to set-up Squid proxy to permit private connections in Ubuntu 20.04.
  
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  Dante Forward Proxy that utilizes the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP and is better suitable for applications such as peer-to-peer traffic. You can also learn how to setup an Dante proxy for private connections on Ubuntu 20.04
  
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Understanding Reverse Proxies

A reverse proxy is an intermediary for web servers that handle any requests made by clients on behalf of. The web server may be a single server or a number of servers. It could also include an application server such as Gunicorn. In any case, the request comes from users on the internet generally. The majority of the time, the request will be sent directly to the server that has all the resources the client requires. Contrarily reverse proxy acts as an intermediary that isolates Web servers from direct interaction with the open internet.

From the consumer's point of perspective, using reverse proxy is not any different from using an internet server direct. It's pretty much the same, and the client cannot see the difference. The client makes a request for it, then it receives it without extra configuration that must be done by the customer.

Reverse proxies provide features such as:

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  A central layer of security to guard the server.
  
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  Controlling traffic that is inbound on rules you can establish.
  
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  A new feature to cache has been added.
  
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While central security is a benefit of both reverse and forward proxies, reverse proxies provide this only to the server layer, but not the layer that clients use. instead of maintaining firewalls at Web server layers that can include multiple servers and various configurations, most security for firewalls is focused on the reverse proxy layer. In addition, the ease of interacting with a firewall and interacting with requests from clients that are not web servers allows the firewall to concentrate on delivering the needs of their clients.

In the event of multiple servers running within a reverse proxy, it controls which requests are directed to which servers. A number of web servers could be working within the exact same system, serving different kinds of resources or a mix of both. They use the HTTP protocol, which is similar to a traditional web server. However, they can be equipped with applications server protocols like FastCGI. You can set up reverse proxy settings to direct the clients towards specific servers depending on the type of resource they're searching for, or follow certain rules regarding traffic load.

Reverse proxies are also able to gain advantage from their position prior to web servers, through providing caching functionality. Large static assets are able to be configured using caching rules, so that you do not need to contact web servers every time you request. Certain software solutions allow you to deliver static files directly without touching the server once. Furthermore reverse proxy is able to manage compression of these assets.

The well-known Nginx web server is also used as a reliable reverse proxy service. While it is true it is true that Apache website server also outfitted with a reverse proxy that is an additional option for Apache however Nginx was originally built for and is focused on reverse proxy functionality.

Differentiating Forward Proxy and reverse Proxy Use Examples

Since "forward" and "reverse" are associated with the notion of directionality and false comparisons to "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic. It can be confusing as both types of proxy services process requests and responses. The best way to differentiate between reverse and forward proxy services is to consider the requirements of the app that you're developing.

Reverse proxy can be useful in the case of designing a system to provide web-based services via the internet. They serve as your servers in any interactions through the Internet.

Forward proxy applications are beneficial when it is presented to the client for your personal usage and in the professional context. They represent your clients when you connect to the internet.

The use case-based differentiation instead of focusing on commonly used naming conventions can help you in avoiding confusion.

Conclusion

This article clarified what a proxy is with two types: the forward proxy and reverse proxy. Practical applications and an exploration of beneficial features were used to differentiate between forward and reverse proxies. If you're interested to learn more about the implementation of proxies then you should read our tutorial on how to set up Nginx as an internet server and reverse proxy with Apache on the Ubuntu 20.04 server.

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