What's the difference between a reverse proxy and a gateway? [duplicate]

Question

I know the difference between a forward and reverse proxy, but am not clear on how a reverse proxy is different from a gateway.

Atwekk

Answer 1

A gateway is about routing.
When a computer wants to communicate with another computer in a different network, it usually uses the gateway to get out of its own network. Gateways take care of routing data packets between separate networks.

A proxy is about representing another computer(s)/server(s) in a network.
Usually it is done for different purposes like load balancing, caching, access blocking, etc. The client is unaware that it talks to proxy instead of to the actual server (reverse proxy).

Downbeat

Answer 2

A gateway is a network point that acts as an entrance to another network.

A reverse proxy is where a proxy server retrieves information being sent from one or more servers.

The proxy server is essentially asking the gateway for permission for information to enter the network.

Internet (Information) --> gateway --> proxy server --> human (GUI)

Fiesta

but don't gateways often act as proxy servers themselves? – Atwekk