You probably understand what the words “load balancer” and “reverse proxy” mean.
But, what precisely do they do? When is it a good time to swap one for the other? And are they able to cooperate?
In this article, we will go in depth about each one.
What Is a Reverse Proxy?
A reverse proxy helps your servers handle requests smoothly. It sits between users and your servers. When users request something, the proxy receives it first. Then, it decides where to send those requests, sometimes to your servers.
This also protects your servers from direct connections and threats. It also stores common requests so your app can runs faster.
What Is a Load Balancer?
Load balancers help your apps handle heavy traffic without slowing down, it takes incoming user requests and spreads them evenly across multiple servers. Preventing the server from getting overloaded.
If one server has issues, load balancer sends traffic to other servers that works fine. So your apps stay online, fast and reliable even during peak times.
Reverse Proxy vs. Load Balancer – Key Differences
So, what’s the difference between load balancer and reverse proxy?
What a Reverse Proxy Can Handle
By hiding your real servers it makes attacks harder. It filters out odd traffic before it reaches anything important. You can avoid the hassle of managing SSL on every server by using it.
What a Load Balancer Does Best
This one functions more like a law enforcement official. Its job is to distribute the requests so that no server is impacted. It ensures that everything remains stable during times of heavy traffic.
When to Use Which (or Both)
There’s no one answer, it depends on what your app needs most: security, speed or handling sudden growth.
When to Use a Reverse Proxy
Reverse proxy service is the best option if security and simpler SSL management are your main concerns. It adds a layer of security without adding extra complexity, centralizes certificate handling, and hides backend servers from view.
When to Use a Load Balancer
A load balancer is the best option if traffic management and uptime are your main concerns. To prevent any server from becoming overloaded, it distributes requests among them. Your app will continue to function even if one server goes down because traffic will automatically switch to another server.
When to Combine Both
Both are frequently used by popular apps. While the load balancer makes sure that traffic flows evenly, the reverse proxy manages security and expedites responses. When combined, they produce a configuration that is reliable and scalable.
Real-World Architecture Examples
Let’s look at this in two scenarios:
Online Store
Do you have an online store during the holidays? One useful tool is a reverse proxy. It manages SSL to ensure a secure checkout and caches popular product pages to speed up operations. Additionally, it filters malicious traffic before it reaches your servers, keeping your website secure and functional when it counts most.
Popular Mobile App
Now consider a social media app during busy times. To prevent requests from piling up on one server, a load balancer is used. Traffic automatically switches to a functional server in the event of a failure. Users continue to stream and scroll in the background without even realizing it.
Conclusion
Both solve different problems, but together they create a stronger, more reliable setup. You don’t have to pick one over the other. Whether it’s handling security at the edge or keeping traffic under control, these tools make sure users get a smooth experience even when demand spikes.
