WAF
/ˈdʌbəljuː-ˈeɪ-ɛf/
n. “A gatekeeper that filters the bad, lets the good pass, and occasionally throws tantrums.”
WAF, short for Web Application Firewall, is a specialized security system designed to monitor, filter, and block HTTP traffic to and from a web application. Unlike traditional network firewalls that focus on ports and protocols, a WAF operates at the application layer, understanding web-specific threats like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other attacks targeting the logic of web applications.