A reverse proxy (nginx, Caddy, Traefik) handles TLS, routing, and often caching. Reduces load on app servers and centralizes SSL. Use health checks for backends; set timeouts and buffer sizes appropriately.
What a reverse proxy does
- TLS termination: Clients connect to the proxy over HTTPS; the proxy talks to backends over HTTP or HTTPS. Centralizes certificate management and offloads TLS from app servers.
- Routing: Forward requests by host, path, or other rules to different backends (e.g. /api to one server, / to another). Single entry point for multiple services.
- Caching: Cache static or cacheable responses at the proxy. Reduces load on origin and improves response time for repeated requests.
- Load balancing: Distribute requests across multiple backends; remove unhealthy ones via health checks.
Options
- nginx: Mature, fast, and flexible. Rich config; use for high traffic and complex routing/caching. Steeper learning curve.
- Caddy: Automatic HTTPS (Let's Encrypt), simple config. Good for smaller setups and quick deployment.
- Traefik: Dynamic config; integrates with Docker/Kubernetes. Good for containerized environments and frequent changes.
Best practices
- Health checks: Probe backends (HTTP or TCP); stop sending traffic to unhealthy ones. Set timeouts and retries.
- Buffer sizes: Tune client and proxy buffers so large requests/responses do not hit temp file or timeouts. Document limits.
- Security headers: Add HSTS, X-Frame-Options, CSP, etc. at the proxy so all backends benefit.
Summary
Use a reverse proxy for TLS, routing, caching, and load balancing. Choose nginx, Caddy, or Traefik by scale and ops preference. Configure health checks, timeouts, and buffers; add security headers.
