What Is ProxyPass?

ProxyPass is a directive used in Apache HTTP Server configuration that allows you to proxy requests to backend servers. It’s a powerful feature that enables reverse proxy functionality, load balancing, and URL rewriting.

How ProxyPass Works

ProxyPass works by intercepting incoming HTTP requests and forwarding them to backend servers. The basic syntax is:

ProxyPass /path http://backend-server:port/

Common Use Cases

1. Reverse Proxy

Proxy requests from your web server to application servers:

ProxyPass /app http://localhost:8080/
ProxyPassReverse /app http://localhost:8080/

2. Load Balancing

Distribute traffic across multiple backend servers:

ProxyPass /api balancer://mycluster/
<Proxy balancer://mycluster>
    BalancerMember http://server1:8080
    BalancerMember http://server2:8080
</Proxy>

3. SSL Termination

Handle SSL at the proxy level:

ProxyPass / https://backend-server/
ProxyPassReverse / https://backend-server/

Benefits of Using ProxyPass

• Security: Hide backend server details
• Performance: Load balancing and caching
• Flexibility: URL rewriting and routing
• Scalability: Easy to add/remove backend servers

Comparison with Service Mesh

While ProxyPass is useful for traditional web applications, modern microservices architectures often use service mesh solutions like Istio for more advanced traffic management, security, and observability features.

Related Topics

• What Is Istio Service Mesh?
• What Is Kubernetes Ingress?
• What Does “Proxied” Mean?