Web Application Firewall (WAF) is a security system that sits between your website and the internet — filtering out the bad stuff before it causes trouble.
If someone tries to sneak in a cyberattack (like SQL injection, XSS, or bots hammering your login), the WAF can block it before it hits your app. It checks incoming traffic based on rules, behaviors, and known threats. You can think of it as a bouncer for your website — friendly users get in, sketchy ones get turned away at the door.
WAFs can be cloud-based (like Cloudflare or AWS WAF) or installed on your own server. Either way, they’re essential for keeping your web apps safe without having to rewrite all your code for every new exploit.
This quick guide breaks it down: What Is a Web Application Firewall? – Cloudflare
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