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All glossary terms

Proxy & networking

Reverse proxy

A reverse proxy accepts requests on behalf of one or more backend services and forwards them to an appropriate origin. It commonly provides a stable front door for routing, TLS termination, or load distribution, while clients address the proxy rather than selecting a backend directly.

Also known as inbound proxy.

Why it matters in practice

A reverse proxy faces incoming clients, whereas a forward proxy is typically selected by clients for outbound destinations. The distinction is about which side the proxy represents, not whether it encrypts traffic or authenticates users. Security depends on the deployment, backend trust, and request handling rules.

Example

A browser requests a company service endpoint, and the reverse proxy routes that request to the selected application instance.

Educational note

This definition is general information, not legal advice. It may omit facts that matter to a specific situation and does not establish or guarantee compliance.