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What is a proxy server?

Last updated

Short answer

A proxy server is an intermediary computer that forwards your internet requests to websites and returns the responses. The website sees the proxy's IP address instead of yours. Proxies are used to reach content from other locations, collect public web data at scale, test websites, filter traffic and add a layer of privacy.

How does a proxy server work?

  1. Your application sends a request to the proxy instead of directly to the website.
  2. The proxy opens its own connection to the website, from its own IP address.
  3. The website responds to the proxy.
  4. The proxy passes the response back to you.

If the connection uses HTTPS, the proxy only tunnels the encrypted traffic. It can see which site you connect to, but not the pages or data.

Types of proxy servers

By where the IP comes from

TypeIP sourceMain strength
ResidentialHome internet connectionsLooks like a real visitor
ISPResidential ISP ranges, hosted on serversStatic and trusted
DatacenterHosting and cloud providersFast and cheap
Mobile4G and 5G carriersHardest to block

By protocol

  • HTTP and HTTPS proxies handle web traffic and are supported by almost every tool.
  • SOCKS5 proxies relay any TCP connection and can resolve DNS on the proxy.

By rotation

  • Rotating proxies give you a new IP on every request.
  • Sticky or static proxies keep the same IP for a session or for the whole subscription.

Forward proxy vs reverse proxy

A forward proxy works on behalf of the client: it hides the client's IP from the websites it visits. A reverse proxy works on behalf of a website: it sits in front of the site's servers to balance traffic, cache pages and block attacks. When people say "proxy" in scraping and testing, they mean a forward proxy.

What are proxy servers used for?

  • Web scraping: collecting public data without being rate-limited to one IP.
  • Price and ad monitoring: seeing prices and ads as users in other countries see them.
  • SEO rank tracking: checking search results from specific locations.
  • Testing: checking how a site behaves for users on different networks and in different regions.
  • Privacy: keeping your own IP address out of the logs of the sites you visit.

Proxy vs VPN

ProxyVPN
ScopeUsually one applicationThe whole device
EncryptionNone added (HTTPS still encrypted)Encrypted tunnel
Typical userSoftware, scrapers, testing toolsPeople
IP choiceMany IPs, rotation, targetingOne server at a time
FAQ

Questions, answered

What does a proxy server do?
A proxy server receives your request, sends it to the destination from its own IP address, and passes the response back to you. The destination sees the proxy's IP and location rather than yours.
Is a proxy the same as a VPN?
No. A VPN encrypts all traffic from your device through a tunnel to the VPN server. A proxy usually handles traffic from one application, does not add encryption by itself, and is often used by software rather than people, for example in scrapers and testing tools.
What is the difference between a forward proxy and a reverse proxy?
A forward proxy acts for the client and hides the client's IP from websites. A reverse proxy acts for the website, sitting in front of its servers to balance load, cache content and filter attacks.
Are proxy servers legal?
Using a proxy server is legal in most countries. The activity you perform through it must still comply with the law and with the terms of the sites you access.

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