---
title: Introduction to PingGateway
description: "Introduction to PingGateway: covers deployment patterns (reverse proxy, forward proxy, microgateway), the object model, sessions, and API descriptors"
component: pinggateway
version: 2026
page_id: pinggateway:about:preface
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pinggateway/2026/about/preface.html
revdate: 2025-04-02T12:24:35Z
keywords: ["Configuration", "JSON", "Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)", "OAuth 2.0", "SAML 2.0", "Java", "Agents", "Journeys", "Data Store", "Authentication", "Nodes & Trees", "Users"]
page_aliases: ["index.adoc"]
---

# Introduction to PingGateway

PingGateway uses Ping Identity Platform capabilities to protect web applications, APIs, and microservices.

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#### [Reverse proxy](reverse-proxy.html)

Front protected applications with PingGateway.

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#### [Forward proxy](forward-proxy.html)

Add capabilities to applications with PingGateway.

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#### [Microservice](about-microgateway.html)

Run PingGateway as a microgateway in containerized environments.

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#### [Object model](about-processing.html)

Understand the PingGateway processing model.

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#### [Sessions](about-sessions.html)

Understand PingGateway sessions.

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#### [API descriptors](api-descriptor.html)

Get API descriptors for PingGateway endpoints.