Proxies

Introduction to Proxies

A Proxy refers to one’s substitute, i.e., you arrange someone else in your place to do the work that is to be done by you.
Similarly, a proxy server is a bridge between the client and the back end-server that acts accordingly on behalf of either the client(Forward Proxy) or the backend server(Reverse Proxy).
Generally, the terms proxy and forward proxy are used interchangeably.

Forward Proxy-  

It is a server that basically sits in b/w clients or a set of clients and another server or a set of other servers.
Precisely, A Forward Proxy is a server that acts on behalf of the client’s side. i.e., if a client wants to communicate a request to the server, it first goes to the proxy server, and on behalf of the client, the proxy server communicates with the back-end server.

The Server then gets the request from the proxy server and not directly from the client itself! When the server responds to the request, it responds to the proxy server and not to the client since it is unaware of the client. Then finally, the forward proxy will give the response to the client.

So we can see that Forward Proxy serves to hide the client’s identity from the server as the server gets the requests from the Proxy server’s IP address and not the client’s IP address. (not always; because in some cases, the forward proxy may reveal the source IP address)

This is also how VPN’s work, i.e., the forward proxies sit b/w the client and the server and the VPN can hide your identity. 

Reverse Proxy- 
The Reverse Proxies act on behalf of the servers in an interaction b/w a client and a server.

Precisely, A Reverse Proxy is a server that acts on behalf of the server’s side that has already configured a reverse proxy. i.e., suppose a client wants to communicate a request to the server. In that case, the client won’t know that the request first goes to the proxy server and then to the backend server, and then the server will return the response of the reverse proxy, which further returns the response of the client.

There are no two different entities- reverse proxy and backend server but only a single entity to the client in Reverse Proxy. While in the case of the Forward proxy, there are no two different entities to the server.

Purpose of Proxy Server -

1. Gain admittance to blocked/unallowed assets-

Proxy servers permit clients to dodge content limitations forced by organizations or governments. The proxy servers make it seem like you are in Canada, yet you live in India. A few governments worldwide intently screen and limit admittance to the web and proxy servers offer their residents admittance to an uncensored web.

2. Improved security: You can set up the proxy server to scramble your requests to hold meddlesome eyes back from perusing your information exchange. i.e., Proxy servers give security benefits above privacy benefits. 

You can likewise get away from any kind of malware through the proxy worker. Also, associations can combine their proxy server with a Virtual Private Network (VPN), so distant clients consistently access the web through the organization's proxy. A VPN is an immediate association with the organization network that organizations give to outside or distant clients. By utilizing a VPN, the organization can handle and check that their clients approach the assets (emails, etc.) while also giving a safe association with the client to secure the organization's information.

3.Improved Data Transfer Speed: 

Organizations can likewise improve network efficiency with a decent proxy worker. What a Proxy server does is that it caches some of the most used or popular sites and when a client requests for any such site, the proxy server checks if it has the cached copy of the same site and then sends you the saved copy. This is when many people need to access the same site from the same proxy server, and the proxy server sends only a single request to the particular site. This helps save transfer speed for the organization and improves network efficiency.

4. Privacy Benefits:

People use proxy servers to peruse the web all the more secretly. Some proxy workers will change the IP address and other recognizing data the web requests contains. This implies the destination server doesn't have the foggiest idea who made the first request, which helps keeps your data and perusing histories more private.