--- title: Features description: Discover what makes Charon the easiest way to manage your reverse proxy. Explore automatic HTTPS, Docker integration, enterprise security, and more. --- # Features Charon makes managing your web applications simple. No command lines, no config filesβ€”just a clean interface that lets you focus on what matters: running your apps. --- ## 🎯 Core Features ### 🎯 Point & Click Management Say goodbye to editing configuration files and memorizing commands. Charon gives you a beautiful web interface where you simply type your domain name, select your backend service, and click save. If you can browse the web, you can manage a reverse proxy. Whether you're setting up your first website or managing dozens of services, everything happens through intuitive forms and buttons. No terminal required. β†’ [Learn More](features/web-ui.md) --- ### πŸ” Automatic HTTPS Certificates Every website deserves the green padlock. Charon automatically obtains free SSL certificates from Let's Encrypt or ZeroSSL, installs them, and renews them before they expireβ€”all without you lifting a finger. Your visitors get secure connections, search engines reward you with better rankings, and you never have to think about certificate management again. β†’ [Learn More](features/ssl-certificates.md) --- ### 🌐 DNS Challenge for Wildcard Certificates Need to secure `*.example.com` with a single certificate? Charon now supports DNS challenge authentication, letting you obtain wildcard certificates that cover all your subdomains at once. **Supported Providers:** - Cloudflare, AWS Route53, DigitalOcean, Google Cloud DNS - Namecheap, GoDaddy, Hetzner, OVH, Linode - And 10+ more DNS providers Your credentials are stored securely with encryption and automatic key rotation. A plugin architecture means new providers can be added easily. β†’ [Learn More](features/dns-challenge.md) --- ## πŸ• Cerberus Security Suite Enterprise-grade protection that "just works." Cerberus bundles multiple security layers into one easy-to-manage system. ### πŸ•΅οΈ CrowdSec Integration Protect your applications using behavior-based threat detection powered by a global community of security data. Bad actors get blocked automatically before they can cause harm. β†’ [Learn More](features/crowdsec.md) --- ### πŸ” Access Control Lists (ACLs) Define exactly who can access what. Block specific countries, allow only certain IP ranges, or require authentication for sensitive applications. Fine-grained rules give you complete control. β†’ [Learn More](features/access-control.md) --- ### 🧱 Web Application Firewall (WAF) Stop common attacks like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and path traversal before they reach your applications. Powered by Coraza, the WAF protects your apps from the OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities. β†’ [Learn More](features/waf.md) --- ### ⏱️ Rate Limiting Prevent abuse by limiting how many requests a user or IP address can make. Stop brute-force attacks, API abuse, and resource exhaustion with simple, configurable limits. β†’ [Learn More](features/rate-limiting.md) --- ## πŸ›‘οΈ Security & Headers ### πŸ›‘οΈ HTTP Security Headers Modern browsers expect specific security headers to protect your users. Charon automatically adds industry-standard headers including: - **Content-Security-Policy (CSP)** β€” Prevents code injection attacks - **Strict-Transport-Security (HSTS)** β€” Enforces HTTPS connections - **X-Frame-Options** β€” Stops clickjacking attacks - **X-Content-Type-Options** β€” Prevents MIME-type sniffing One toggle gives your application the same security posture as major websites. β†’ [Learn More](features/security-headers.md) --- ### πŸ”— Smart Proxy Headers Your backend applications need to know the real client IP address, not Charon's. Standard headers like `X-Real-IP`, `X-Forwarded-For`, and `X-Forwarded-Proto` are added automatically, ensuring accurate logging and proper HTTPS enforcement. β†’ [Learn More](features/proxy-headers.md) --- ## 🐳 Docker & Integration ### 🐳 Docker Auto-Discovery Already running apps in Docker? Charon automatically finds your containers and offers one-click proxy setup. No manual configuration, no port huntingβ€”just select a container and go. Supports both local Docker installations and remote Docker servers, perfect for managing multiple machines from a single dashboard. β†’ [Learn More](features/docker-integration.md) --- ### πŸ“₯ Caddyfile Import Migrating from another Caddy setup? Import your existing Caddyfile configurations with one click. Your existing work transfers seamlesslyβ€”no need to start from scratch. β†’ [Learn More](features/caddyfile-import.md) --- ### πŸ”Œ WebSocket Support Real-time applications like chat servers, live dashboards, and collaborative tools work out of the box. Charon handles WebSocket connections automatically with no special configuration needed. β†’ [Learn More](features/websocket.md) --- ## πŸ“Š Monitoring & Observability ### πŸ“Š Uptime Monitoring Know immediately when something goes wrong. Charon continuously monitors your applications and alerts you when a service becomes unavailable. View uptime history, response times, and availability statistics at a glance. β†’ [Learn More](features/uptime-monitoring.md) --- ### πŸ“‹ Real-Time Logs Watch requests flow through your proxy in real-time. Filter by domain, status code, or time range to troubleshoot issues quickly. All the visibility you need without diving into container logs. β†’ [Learn More](features/logs.md) --- ### πŸ”” Notifications Get alerted when it matters. Charon can notify you about certificate expirations, downtime events, and security incidents through multiple channels. Stay informed without constantly watching dashboards. β†’ [Learn More](features/notifications.md) --- ## πŸ› οΈ Administration ### πŸ’Ύ Backup & Restore Your configuration is valuable. Charon makes it easy to backup your entire setup and restore it when neededβ€”whether you're migrating to new hardware or recovering from a problem. β†’ [Learn More](features/backup-restore.md) --- ### ⚑ Zero-Downtime Updates Make changes without interrupting your users. Update domains, modify security rules, or add new services instantly. Your sites stay up while you workβ€”no container restarts needed.* *Initial CrowdSec security engine setup requires a one-time restart. β†’ [Learn More](features/live-reload.md) --- ### 🌍 Multi-Language Support Charon speaks your language. The interface is available in English, Spanish, French, German, and Chinese. Switch languages instantly in settingsβ€”no reload required. β†’ [Learn More](features/localization.md) --- ### 🎨 Dark Mode & Modern UI Easy on the eyes, day or night. Toggle between light and dark themes to match your preference. The clean, modern interface makes managing complex setups feel simple. β†’ [Learn More](features/ui-themes.md) --- ## πŸ€– Automation & API ### πŸ€– REST API Automate everything. Charon's comprehensive REST API lets you manage hosts, certificates, security rules, and settings programmatically. Perfect for CI/CD pipelines, Infrastructure as Code, or custom integrations. β†’ [Learn More](features/api.md) --- ## πŸ”’ Supply Chain Security ### πŸ”’ Verified Builds Know exactly what you're running. Every Charon release includes: - **Cryptographic signatures** β€” Verify the image hasn't been tampered with - **SLSA provenance attestation** β€” Transparent build process documentation - **Software Bill of Materials (SBOM)** β€” Complete list of included components Enterprise-grade supply chain security for everyone. β†’ [Learn More](features/supply-chain-security.md) --- ## πŸš€ Deployment ### πŸš€ Zero-Dependency Deployment One container. No external databases. No extra services. Just pull the image and run. Charon includes everything it needs, making deployment as simple as it gets. β†’ [Learn More](../README.md#quick-start) --- ### πŸ’― 100% Free & Open Source No premium tiers. No feature paywalls. No usage limits. Everything you see here is yours to use forever, backed by the MIT license. β†’ [View on GitHub](https://github.com/Wikid82/Charon) --- ## What's Next? Ready to get started? Check out our [Quick Start Guide](../README.md#quick-start) to have Charon running in minutes. Have questions? Visit our [Documentation](index.md) or [open an issue](https://github.com/Wikid82/Charon/issues) on GitHub.