Cloudflare, one of the leading providers of web performance and security solutions, is known for its powerful and feature-rich reverse web proxy, known as FL (Front Line). One of the key components of FL is cf-html, which is responsible for parsing and rewriting HTML as it streams back from the website origin to the website visitor. However, cf-html is one of the oldest and least-known components in FL, and it has become outdated in many ways.
As a result, Cloudflare has been working on a replacement for cf-html, which will provide improved performance and functionality. The new framework is being built from the ground up, with a focus on modularity and flexibility. The goal is to provide a more efficient and extensible solution that can better meet the needs of Cloudflare's customers.
Since the early days of Cloudflare, the company has offered features that allow the rewriting of the response body of web requests on the fly. One of the earliest features developed was the replacement of email addresses with chunks of JavaScript, which would then load the email address when viewed in a web browser. This helps to prevent scraping of email addresses from websites, as bots are often unable to evaluate JavaScript. This feature was implemented using cf-html, but as the web has evolved, so have the needs of Cloudflare's customers.
The new framework being developed to replace cf-html will provide improved performance and functionality, with a modular and flexible design. This will allow Cloudflare to continue to offer powerful and innovative features that help protect websites and enhance their performance. The new framework is still in development, but Cloudflare is excited about the potential it offers.
In conclusion, cf-html has been a critical component of Cloudflare's reverse web proxy for many years, but it is now outdated and in need of replacement. The new framework being developed to replace it will provide improved performance and functionality, with a focus on modularity and flexibility. Cloudflare is committed to providing its customers with the best possible solutions for their web performance and security needs, and the new framework is a key part of that commitment.