A proxy, also called an application called a proxy that serves in the role of an intermediary the server and user on the internet. In the absence of proxies, a user could make a request a source directly through a server, and the server could serve the resource directly back for the client. This is a simple method to comprehend and implement, the addition of proxies can bring benefits such as improved performance, privacy, security, and many more. As an additional layer of pass-through, the proxy functions as a gatekeeper of the internet between clients and servers.

Generally speaking, the combination of server hardware with proxy software is commonly referred too as proxy servers. This article will focus on proxies that are traditionally classified as software when referring to web servers. This article will give an in-depth breakdown of two types: forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each type of proxy has its own situation, and it is frequently confused due to the same terminology.

This article will provide you with details on the different types of proxy services, what their subtypes, as well as how they work in various configurations. By reading this article, you'll be able identify instances where using proxies can be advantageous and pick the best option between forward and reverse proxy for any particular scenario.

Understanding Forward Proxies

The forward proxy also referred to the open proxy is a proxy for a user who wishes to send a request via the internet to the server which originated it. In this scenario the entire process of sending requests made by the user will be sent via the forward proxy. A forward proxy, acting in place of the client, will look into the request. Then, it determines whether the client has the right to send requests using this specific forward proxy. It will then decide whether to deny any request or forward it to the server that originated it. The client is not able to have direct access directly to internet. It is able to access only the information that the forward proxy allows it to access.

A common use of forward proxies is greater privacy and security when surfing the internet. Forward proxy can access the internet instead of a client. in this way, it could make use of an IP address that is different from the IP address that was originally used by the client.

Based on the way it has been configured and how it's configured forward proxy can offer you a variety of features based the way it's configured, which allows you to:

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  Don't fall victim of ad tracking.
  
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
  
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  Recognize the restrictions based on your place of residence.
  
  

Forward proxies are also utilized to secure systems that are centralised and also for access based on permissions for instance, such as at work. If all traffic on the internet passes through an open forward proxy an administrator is able to grant just a handful of users connection to internet filtered through the firewall. Instead of setting up firewalls for the client layer which can comprise a variety of machines that have various environments and users, a firewall could be installed in this front proxy level.

It is essential to note that forward proxies need to be manually setup for use and reverse proxies may not be noticed by the user. Depending on the type IP address of a user is transferred to the server from which it originated through forward proxy Privacy and anonymity can be granted or not.

There are many options to consider for forward proxy services.

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  Apache A well-known open source web server, which offers forward proxy functions.
  
  
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  Nginx: Another widely used open-source web server with the ability to forward-proxy.
  
  
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  Squid: A no-cost forward proxy that uses an HTTP protocol. Squid doesn't include the full web server. Read our article about the best method to create Squid proxy to connect privately on Ubuntu 20.04.
  
  
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  Dante is forward proxy which makes use of the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP and HTTP which makes it more suitable for use instances like peer-to-peer communication. It is also possible to learn how to set up Dante proxy to allow private connections on Ubuntu 20.04
  
  

Understanding Reverse Proxies

A reverse proxy functions as an intermediary for the web server which manages incoming requests from clients on behalf of. The web server may include one or more servers. Additionally, it can be an application-server such as Gunicorn. In any of these scenarios, the request will be made via the internet at large. In the majority of cases requests will then be made directly to the web server with the resources that the user seeks. A reverse proxy functions as an intermediary and isolates the webserver from direct communications via the open internet.

From the viewpoint of a user, the experience of using reverse proxy isn't different than connecting to an internet server direct. It's functionally the same however the client is unable to discern the difference. The client asks for a resource and then receives it without additional configuration required by the client.

Reverse proxies offer features like:

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  Centralized security to web server.
  
  
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  Controlling traffic that is incoming according to rules you have set.
  
  
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  New caching functionality has been added.
  
  

While centralized security can be a benefit of both forward and reverse proxy servers, reverse proxies provide this service only to the layer of the webserver and not to clients. instead of the maintenance of firewalls at the web server layer, which might contain many servers and different configurations, the bulk of firewall security is targeted at the reverse proxy layer. Furthermore, the removal of the burden of working with a firewall and responding to requests from clients via web servers allows them to concentrate on addressing the needs of their customers.

If there are multiple servers using reverse-proxies, the reverse proxy also handles the direction that requests are directed towards which servers. Multiple web servers may be running within the same system, offering different kinds of resources, or a combination of the two. They can utilize the HTTP protocol just like a conventional web server, but they can also be equipped with applications server protocols, such as FastCGI. You can set up reverse proxy servers that redirect users to a particular server according to the service requested, or to adhere to a set of rules for the load of traffic.

Reverse proxies can also benefit from their placement on top of web servers, as they provide the ability to cache. Large static assets can be configured with caching rules to avoid needing to connect with web servers for each request. Certain solutions allow you to directly serve static content without having to communicate with the webserver for even one time. In addition, the reverse proxy is able to handle the compression of these files.

The renowned Nginx web server also functions as an extremely popular reverse proxy solution. Although Apache is also an alternative to reverse proxy however, the Apache web server also has reverse proxy capabilities, however, it's a distinct feature to Apache unlike Nginx was initially designed for focus specifically on reverse proxy features.

Distinguishing Forward and Reverse Proxy Use

Since "forward" or "reverse" are both associated with the notion of directionality, and misleading comparisons with "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic, the labels could be confusing as the two types of proxies deal with the processing of requests as well as responses. The most effective way to distinguish between reverse and forward proxy providers is to take into account the needs of the application you're creating.

A reverse proxy is useful when building a solution to offer web-based applications on the internet. They act as your web server during any interaction on the web.

Forward proxy are useful when placed before users for personal use or in an office setting. They serve as a representation of your client's traffic whenever you interact on the internet.

Separating by use case rather than focusing solely on common naming conventions can ensure that you aren't confused.

Conclusion

This article explains the meaning of a proxy, focusing on the two primary kinds, namely forward proxy and reverse proxy. Practical examples of how to use them and an overview of useful features were utilized to distinguish forward proxies and reverse proxy. If you're keen to learn more about the possibilities of proxies, then you can check out our guide for configuring Nginx as a web server and reverse proxy within Apache on one Ubuntu 20.04 Server.