Definition
A reverse proxy acts as an intermediary server that sits in front of one or more web servers, intercepting client requests and forwarding them to the appropriate backend server. It receives requests from clients on behalf of the web servers and then forwards those requests to the origin servers, returning the server's response to the client as if it originated from the proxy itself. This architecture enhances security by hiding the identity and characteristics of the backend servers, improves performance through caching and load balancing, and simplifies management by providing a single point of access. For instance, a reverse proxy can distribute incoming traffic across multiple web servers to prevent any single server from becoming overloaded. Unlike a forward proxy which protects clients, a reverse proxy protects the servers. This concept is crucial for understanding secure and scalable web architectures and appears on exams like Security+, CISSP, and CCSP.