Reverse Proxy VS. API Gateway

It all started during a casual team break. I had been reading some articles online about API Gateways, and a question popped into my head. Khaled, our lead developer, leaned against the coffee machine ??, always ready to explain things, while Gimmy, our senior back-end developer, was sipping his espresso. ?

I broke the silence. “Guys, I’ve been thinking about the API Gateway we talked about last week. It sounds great, but why don’t we just use a reverse proxy instead? Aren’t they basically the same thing?”

Gimmy raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Ah, the classic question,” he said, setting his cup down. “Let’s break this down. But first, do you know what a reverse proxy actually is?”

What is a Reverse Proxy?

I thought for a moment. “Well, I think it’s something that sits between clients and backend servers, managing requests. Like, it routes traffic, right?”

“Exactly!” Khaled said, jumping in. “Think of a reverse proxy as a middleman. It takes requests from clients and forwards them to the right backend server. Once the server responds, the reverse proxy sends the response back to the client.”

Gimmy nodded. “But there’s more to it. A reverse proxy doesn’t just route traffic; it can handle tasks like load balancing, caching, SSL termination, and even shielding your backend from direct exposure. Tools like NGINX and HAProxy are the go-to solutions for setting one up.”

“Ah, so it’s mostly about traffic management,” I said, scribbling some notes. “Got it. But what about an API Gateway? How is it different?”

What About an API Gateway?

Gimmy grinned. “Now we’re getting to the good part. An API Gateway does everything a reverse proxy can do, but it’s specifically built for APIs. So, in addition to routing traffic, it manages how APIs are consumed.”

Khaled chimed in. “For instance, an API Gateway can handle authentication, rate limiting, and even request transformation.”

“Request transformation?” I asked, intrigued ??

Gimmy explained, “Let’s say you have three clients: a mobile app, a web app, and a desktop app. They all consume the same API, but each expects the data in a different format. The API Gateway can transform the backend response — sending JSON to the web app, XML to the desktop app, and a compacted version for the mobile app.”

Khaled added, “And don’t forget about analytics. API Gateways often come with monitoring tools that track API usage, response times, and errors. They’re designed to give you complete control over your API ecosystem.”

The NGINX Confusion

I leaned forward. “Okay, but here’s what confuses me. NGINX can act as a reverse proxy, right? But I’ve also read you can configure it as an API Gateway. Isn’t that the same thing?”

Gimmy smile. “Great observation. While NGINX can technically be used as an API Gateway, it’s not designed for that out of the box. You’d have to customize it heavily. For example, you might use Lua scripts or integrate it with tools like Kong to add features like authentication and rate limiting.”

“So, it’s all about the configuration?” I asked.

“Exactly,” Gimmy said. “When used as a reverse proxy, NGINX focuses on traffic management — routing, balancing, and caching. But when you turn it into an API Gateway, you’re essentially adding layers of API-specific functionality on top of its basic capabilities.”

Custom vs. Provider Solutions

I wasn’t done yet. “Okay, but what about managed solutions like AWS API Gateway? How do those compare to building one with NGINX or Kong?”

“Ah, the cloud debate,” Khaled said. “AWS API Gateway is a fully managed service. It comes with built-in features like monitoring dashboards, CI/CD integration, and scalability. You don’t need to worry about maintaining infrastructure.”

“But,” Gimmy added, “it’s not as flexible as building your own. If you use NGINX or Kong, you have complete control. You can tailor your API Gateway to meet specific needs. But you’ll also be responsible for maintaining it, scaling it, and monitoring its performance.”

“So, it’s a trade-off between convenience and control?” I asked.

“Exactly,” Khaled said. “AWS API Gateway is perfect for teams that want a quick, reliable solution. But if you need heavy customization, building your own might be worth it.”

Is an API Gateway Just a Reverse Proxy?

I leaned back, trying to connect the dots. “So, would it be fair to say that an API Gateway is just a reverse proxy with extra features?”

Gimmy nodded. “In essence, yes. It builds on the foundation of a reverse proxy but adds layers of API-specific functionality — things like monitoring, analytics, and data transformations.”

Khaled added, “And remember, cloud providers design their API Gateways with modern API ecosystems in mind. They’re built to handle the unique needs of APIs, like handling multiple client types and enforcing API-level security.”

Key Takeaways

Gimmy smiled, wrapping up the discussion. “At the end of the day, it depends on what you need. If you’re just managing traffic and securing your backend, a reverse proxy like NGINX works great. But if you’re managing APIs for different clients with diverse requirements, an API Gateway is the way to go.”

“And if I want to build my own?” I asked.

“Then tools like Kong, NGINX, or Envoy are your best bet,” Gimmy said. “Just be prepared to invest in customization and maintenance.”

I grinned. “Thanks, guys. This really cleared things up for me. Time to dive deeper into API Gateways!”

TO BE Continued on Medium

https://medium.com/@ahmed.abdelfaheem

Resources

A Journey of Discovery and Decision

https://medium.com/@ahmed.abdelfaheem/a-journey-of-discovery-and-decision-3b7f531499b8