Documentation - ServeProxy

How It Works

ServeProxy is a high-performance image CDN built with Rust. When you request an image through our service, we automatically optimize and cache it for lightning-fast delivery worldwide.

The Process

→ Request: You send an image URL to ServeProxy
→ Fetch: We download the image from your origin server (first time only)
→ Optimize: Images are converted to modern formats like AVIF or WebP
→ Cache: The optimized image is stored in our multi-tier cache
→ Deliver: Served from the nearest location via Cloudflare's global network

Caching Duration

Cache Location	Duration
ServeProxy Servers	7 days
Cloudflare Edge Network	14 days
User Browser	7 days (via Cache-Control headers)

First Request vs Cached: The first time an image is requested, we fetch and optimize it (typically 1–3 seconds). All subsequent requests are served instantly from cache.

Image Optimization

ServeProxy automatically optimizes your images based on their format. We use modern compression techniques to reduce file sizes by 50–75% while maintaining visual quality.

Format Handling

Original Format	Output	Result
JPEG, PNG, BMP	AVIF	50–75% smaller, same quality
Static WebP	AVIF	Further optimized compression
Animated GIF	Animated WebP	Preserves animation, smaller file
Static GIF	AVIF	Standard optimization
Animated WebP	WebP (unchanged)	Already optimized
SVG	SVG (sanitized)	Security cleaned, cached

Quality Settings

We use carefully tuned quality settings that balance file size and visual clarity. Most users can't tell the difference between the original and optimized version.

→ AVIF Compression: Quality level 75 provides excellent results for photos and graphics
→ WebP Animation: Maintains original frame timing and loop behaviour
→ SVG Safety: Removes scripts and potentially harmful content while preserving design

File Size Limit: Images larger than 5 MB will be rejected. Optimize large images before uploading them to your origin server.

Usage Limits

Rate Limiting

Limit Type	Value
Uncached requests per IP	5,000 every 10 minutes
Block duration if exceeded	1 hour
Maximum image file size	5 MB

Cached requests don't count. Only the first request for each unique image URL counts toward your rate limit. Once cached, the same image can be requested unlimited times.

Security Features

→ HTTPS Only: All images are fetched via HTTPS for security
→ SVG Sanitization: Scripts and harmful content removed from SVG files
→ Domain Filtering: Certain restricted domains are blocked automatically
→ Timeout Protection: Image fetches timeout after 15 seconds

Integration Examples

HTML Image Tag

html

<img src="https://serveproxy.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fexample.com%2Fimage.jpg"
     alt="Description"
     loading="lazy">

JavaScript Dynamic Loading

js

function loadOptimizedImage(originalUrl) {
    const encodedUrl = encodeURIComponent(originalUrl);
    return `https://serveproxy.com/?url=${encodedUrl}`;
}

const img = new Image();
img.src = loadOptimizedImage('https://example.com/image.jpg');
document.body.appendChild(img);

CSS Background Image

css

.hero {
    background-image: url('https://serveproxy.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fexample.com%2Fhero.jpg');
    background-size: cover;
    background-position: center;
}

React Component

jsx

function OptimizedImage({ src, alt, ...props }) {
    const optimizedSrc = `https://serveproxy.com/?url=${encodeURIComponent(src)}`;

    return (
        <img
            src={optimizedSrc}
            alt={alt}
            loading="lazy"
            {...props}
        />
    );
}

WordPress Integration

Free WordPress plugin

Install our plugin and all image URLs are automatically rewritten. No code changes required.

Download Plugin

Best Practices: Always use HTTPS URLs for origin images. Include appropriate alt text for accessibility. Use lazy loading for images below the fold. Consider srcset for responsive images at different sizes.

Checking If It Works

Response Headers

Open your browser's developer tools (F12) and check the Network tab. Look for these headers on your images:

response headers

X-Serveproxy-Cache-Status: HIT
X-Serveproxy-Image-Hash: abc123...
X-Serveproxy-Node: server-name

→ Cache-Status HIT: Image is being served from our cache
→ Content-Type: Shows the optimized format (usually image/avif or image/webp)
→ Cache-Control: Tells browsers to cache the image for 7 days

Common Issues

Problem	Solution
Image not loading	Check that the original URL is accessible and under 5 MB
429 error (rate limit)	Wait 10 minutes or reduce request frequency
400 error	Verify the URL is properly encoded and valid
Slow first load	Normal — the first request fetches and processes the image

Statistics Endpoint: Visit https://serveproxy.com/stats to see service-wide statistics including total requests served in the past 7 days.