Reverse proxy

A server that accepts client requests and forwards them to backend servers. It can also distribute traffic, cache responses, terminate encrypted connections, or filter requests.

Forward proxy: A proxy that acts on behalf of clients when they access servers. It sits on the client side of a request, unlike a reverse proxy, which represents backend servers.
Content delivery network: A geographically distributed network of servers that delivers content closer to users. A CDN often uses reverse-proxy behavior at its edge to retrieve and serve origin content.
Client–server model: A computing architecture in which clients request services from servers. A reverse proxy inserts an intermediary into the ordinary client-to-server exchange.
Direct server access: A network arrangement in which clients connect to the service server without an intermediary proxy. It removes the intermediary that would otherwise shield or manage backend servers.
HTTP: A protocol for transferring hypertext and other resources between clients and servers. Reverse proxies commonly inspect, route, and modify HTTP requests and responses.
Web application firewall: A security system that filters and monitors HTTP traffic to web applications. A reverse proxy can host request filtering before traffic reaches an application.
Backend server: A server that processes requests or provides services behind a user-facing layer. It is the destination to which a reverse proxy forwards requests.
Service mesh: An infrastructure layer that manages communication among services in a distributed application. A service mesh primarily governs service-to-service traffic, while reverse proxies often handle client ingress.
TLS termination: The process of decrypting TLS traffic at an intermediary rather than at the destination server. A reverse proxy can decrypt incoming connections and send separate connections to backends.
API gateway: A service that manages API requests between clients and backend services. An API gateway often performs reverse-proxy routing alongside authentication and policy enforcement.

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