// glossary entry

Reverse Proxy / CDN

What are reverse proxies and CDNs?

A reverse proxy sits in front of the actual web server and handles requests, typical examples include NGINX and Varnish. A CDN (Content Delivery Network) is a globally distributed network of reverse proxies (Cloudflare, Fastly, Akamai). Both accelerate content delivery, buffer traffic spikes, filter out attacks, and can handle SSL termination or bot protection. At Waterproof Web Wizard, we recommend using a CDN when users access the site from other regions or internationally, or when DDoS protection and WAF features are business-critical.

// synonyms

  • CDN
  • Content Delivery Network
  • Reverse Proxy
  • Varnish
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