Apa iku proxy lan reverse proxy?

Question

IT Interview Practice · Accepted Answer

A **proxy** acts as an intermediary for requests. A **forward proxy** sits in front of clients (representing them to servers), while a **reverse proxy** sits in front of servers (representing them to clients) — handling load balancing, caching, security, and more. Reverse proxies are key system-design components.

## Forward proxy vs reverse proxy

```text
FORWARD PROXY → sits in front of CLIENTS, forwarding their requests to servers:
  Client → FORWARD PROXY → Internet/Server
  → represents the CLIENT (hides client identity); for filtering, caching, anonymity,
    access control (e.g. corporate proxies)
REVERSE PROXY → sits in front of SERVERS, receiving requests on their behalf:
  Client → REVERSE PROXY → Backend servers
  → represents the SERVERS (clients don't see the backend); the common system-design component
```

## What a reverse proxy does

```text
✓ LOAD BALANCING → distribute requests across backend servers
✓ CACHING → cache responses (reduce backend load)
✓ SSL TERMINATION → handle HTTPS encryption/decryption (offload from backends)
✓ SECURITY → hide backend servers; a single point for filtering, WAF, DDoS protection
✓ COMPRESSION, request routing, rate limiting
→ tools: NGINX, HAProxy, Envoy; also CDNs and API gateways are forms of reverse proxies
```

## Why reverse proxies matter

```text
✓ Centralize cross-cutting concerns (load balancing, SSL, caching, security) at the edge
✓ Hide and protect the backend (clients only see the proxy)
✓ A single entry point → simpler client access, flexible backend changes
→ a fundamental building block of scalable, secure web architectures.
```

## Mangapa iku matak penting

Ngerteni proxy lan reverse proxy nduweni nilai kerja amarga **reverse proxy minangka blok bangunan fundamental saka web architecture sing bisa dikembangaken lan aman**, mula penting banget kanggo system-design knowledge.

Ngerteni bedane — a **forward proxy** sing ana ing sangarepe client (mewakili dheweke, kanggo filtering lan access control) versus a **reverse proxy** sing ana ing sangarepe server (mewakili dheweke marang client) — nandisake konsep-konsep sing ana gandhengane nanging beda, lan reverse proxy iku komponen system-design sing umum.

Ngerteni **apa sing ditalakake reverse proxy** — **load balancing** (nyebaran request), **caching** (ngurangi backend load), **SSL termination** (nangani HTTPS, nglisihake encryption saka backend), **security** (nyembunyiake backend server, maringi siji titik kanggo filtering, WAF, lan DDoS protection), lan compression, routing, lan rate limiting — nandisake akeh keperluan lintas-wilayah sing ditangani ing pinggir.

Ngerteni **mangapa reverse proxy matak penting** — nentralisir keperluan lintas-wilayah ing pinggir, nyembunyiake lan nglindungi backend (client mung ndelok proxy), lan maringi siji titik masuk (akses luwih gampang, perubahan backend sing fleksibel) — nerangke peran fundamental dheweke ing web architecture.

Mengenali yen load balancer, CDN, lan API gateway iku sejatine wujud-wujud saka reverse proxy sambung konsep-konsep sing ana gandhengane.

Reverse proxy (NGINX, HAProxy, Envoy) ana kamumunan ing sistem nyata, nangani load balancing, caching, SSL, lan security sing dibutuhake web architecture sing bisa dikembangaken.

Sajrone reverse proxy iku blok bangunan fundamental saka web architecture sing bisa dikembangaken lan aman (nentralisir load balancing, caching, SSL, lan security saengga nyembunyiake backend), lan sajrone ngerteni bedane forward/reverse lan apa sing ditalakake reverse proxy iku penting kanggo system design, ngerteni proxy lan reverse proxy iku berharga, keadilan praktis system-design knowledge — komponen fundamental saka web architecture, sambung marang load balancer, CDN, lan API gateway, lan pusat kanggo ngrancang sistem sing bisa dikembangaken lan aman lan proper edge handling saka keperluan lintas-wilayah.

Forward proxy vs reverse proxy

What a reverse proxy does

Why reverse proxies matter

Mangapa iku matak penting

Pitakon sing gegandhengan