A reverse proxy is a server that sits between client devices and backend servers. It receives requests from clients and forwards them to the appropriate server, then sends the server's response back to the clients. This setup helps improve security, load balancing, and caching, making web applications more efficient. By using a reverse proxy, organizations can hide the identity of their backend servers, protecting them from direct exposure to the internet. Additionally, it can help manage traffic by distributing requests across multiple servers, ensuring that no single server becomes overwhelmed, which enhances overall performance and reliability.