A reverse proxy, in a small world

A request goes out.
A response comes back.

Let’s follow one visit to a website. One highlighted connection. One action at a time.

A round trip, ready to followILLUSTRATIVE MODEL

Read the four steps below if the scene is unavailable.

Browser terminalAsks for the page

Reverse proxyThe intermediary

ApplicationThe configured backend

Ready when you are

Let’s follow one visit.

The browser wants a page. The reverse proxy is the intermediary in this illustrative scene.

Use still steps (no route animation)

Play the finite round trip, or use Step for the next meaningful phase.

The useful distinction

The proxy forwards a configured request and returns its response. That is not a promise to stop every attack.

Read the four steps without animation

Terminal sends request. It reaches the reverse proxy first.
Proxy forwards request. It uses the backend configured for this request.
Application returns response. The response returns to the proxy.
Proxy returns response to terminal. The browser receives it through the intermediary.

Illustrative AI-assisted brick scene. Actual routing and security controls depend on configuration.