Security · Website glossary

Web application firewall

Quick answer · What is Web application firewall?

A control that inspects web requests and responses against rules intended to identify or block unwanted application traffic.

IN PRACTICE

Web application firewall: an example

A site operator reviews a rule that blocks a suspicious request pattern.

KEEP IN MIND

Rules can block legitimate requests and miss others; monitoring and application updates remain necessary.

Put the idea to work

Frequently asked questions

What is a practical example of Web application firewall?

A site operator reviews a rule that blocks a suspicious request pattern.

Does a web application firewall replace monitoring and updates?

Rules can block legitimate requests and miss others; monitoring and application updates remain necessary.

Which concepts should I read alongside Web application firewall?

Firewall: A control that permits or blocks network traffic according to configured rules.
Security update: A software release or patch intended to address identified security weaknesses.