# Traefik

> Traefik is a cloud native reverse proxy and ingress controller that discovers services automatically and routes HTTP traffic to them.

- Source: https://www.itwonderlab.com/traefik/
- Published: 2026-09-02
- Updated: 2026-09-02
- Author: Javier Ruiz Jiménez (https://www.javierruizjimenez.com/)
- Site: IT Wonder Lab (https://www.itwonderlab.com/)

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**Traefik** is a reverse proxy and load balancer that configures itself from Docker labels or [Kubernetes](https://www.itwonderlab.com/kubernetes/) resources. It is the default ingress controller in [K3s](https://www.itwonderlab.com/k3s/) and [Rancher Desktop](https://www.itwonderlab.com/rancher-desktop/).

### Key concepts

- **Entrypoint**: a port Traefik listens on.
- **Router** and **service**: match requests and send them to backends.
- **Middleware**: modify requests, for example redirects or authentication.

### Learn it

See [Kubernetes in Rancher Desktop](https://www.itwonderlab.com/rancher-desktop-kubernetes/).

Run it with [Install Traefik with Docker](https://www.itwonderlab.com/install-traefik-docker/).