Forward Proxy
A forward proxy is a server that sits in front of client devices and makes outbound requests to external servers on their behalf. It is used to filter traffic, enforce corporate policies, cache content, or mask client IP addresses from the destination servers.
Technical Architecture & Deep-Dive
With a forward proxy, the client knows it is using a proxy and sends requests to it explicitly. The destination server sees the proxy rather than the original client. Corporate networks and privacy tools commonly use forward proxies.
A reverse proxy is the opposite: it sits in front of servers, and clients usually do not know it exists. API gateways and edge BFFs are reverse proxies, protecting and shaping upstream APIs rather than masking clients.
Key Architectural Benefits
Implement Forward Proxy at the Edge
Deploy lightweight API aggregation, edge caching, and secret injection in minutes without Docker containers or complex servers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:Which proxy type should protect my API keys?
A reverse proxy or API proxy. It sits in front of upstream APIs, holds credentials server-side, and exposes a safe endpoint to clients.
Related Architecture Concepts
A Reverse Proxy is an intermediate server that intercepts requests from client applications and forwards them to one or more backend origin servers. The reverse proxy terminates TLS, applies security filtering, caches responses, and returns the result to the client as if it originated from the proxy itself.
An API proxy is an intermediary endpoint that receives client requests and forwards them to an upstream API, returning the upstream response to the client. It is commonly used to hide API keys, add CORS headers, enforce rate limits, cache results, and transform responses.
Zero-Trust API Architecture is a security model based on the principle of "never trust, always verify." Every API request, whether originating outside the perimeter or between microservices, must be strictly authenticated, authorized, encrypted, and validated before execution.