A reverse proxy receives client traffic and forwards it to an origin. A CDN is a distributed reverse proxy that can cache content near users.
Browser -> CDN edge -> origin server
Forwarding headers such as X-Forwarded-For and X-Forwarded-Proto help the origin understand the original client and protocol.
TIP
If a site fails behind a CDN, test both the public CDN URL and the origin path if safely available.
Further Learning
“reverse proxy vs forward proxy” — proxy roles
“CDN edge caching explained” — performance model
“X-Forwarded headers” — proxy metadata
CDN and Reverse Proxy
Two related ideas that speed up and protect websites: a reverse proxy and a CDN. Both sit in front of your actual server and handle incoming traffic before it reaches you.
Reverse proxy: a receptionist for your server
A reverse proxy takes all incoming requests and forwards them to your real server (the “origin”). Why bother? It can add security, handle HTTPS, and hide your server’s details — like a receptionist screening visitors before they reach the office.
Browser → Reverse proxy → Origin server
CDN: copies of your site, worldwide
A CDN (Content Delivery Network) is a reverse proxy spread across the globe. It keeps cached copies of your files (images, CSS, JS) on servers near your users, so a visitor in Tokyo gets your site from a nearby Tokyo server instead of one across the world.
Browser → Nearest CDN server (cached) → (only if needed) Origin
The result: your site loads much faster, and your origin server handles less traffic.
TIP
When a site breaks behind a CDN, it helps to figure out where it broke — is it the CDN (edge) or your actual server (origin)? Many CDN error pages tell you which side failed.
In one sentence
A reverse proxy forwards incoming traffic to your real server (adding security and hiding it), and a CDN is a worldwide network of these that caches your files close to users for much faster loading.
Want to go deeper?
Switch to Expert mode above for forwarding headers like X-Forwarded-For and telling edge errors apart from origin errors.