What are Proxy Servers and What Do They Do?

What is a Proxy Server?

Proxy servers have become an integral part of the internet, and there is a good chance that you have used one without even knowing it. A proxy server is a computer that acts as an intermediary between your computer and the websites you visit. When you type in the address of a website, the proxy server retrieves the page on your behalf and sends it back to you. This process is known as proxying.

What can you use a Proxy Server for?

Proxy servers can be used for a variety of purposes, such as to improve speed and performance, to filter content, or to bypass restrictions. For example, proxy servers can be used to improve the speed of loading pages by caching frequently accessed resources. This means that instead of having to retrieve the same data from the server every time you load a page, the proxy server can simply serve up the cached version.

Infographic Credit: @SecurityGuill

Proxy servers can also be used to filter content. This is often done in corporate and educational environments where certain websites are blocked. By using a proxy server, users can access blocked websites by routing their requests through the proxy server. The proxy server then retrieves the requested page on behalf of the user and sends it back to them.

Proxy servers can also be used to bypass restrictions. For example, some countries block access to certain websites. By using a proxy server located in another country, users can access these blocked websites.

Proxy servers are a valuable tool that can be used for a variety of purposes. If you’re not sure whether or not you’ve used one before, there’s a good chance that you have. So the next time you’re loading a page or accessing a website, keep in mind that there’s a proxy server somewhere between you and the site you’re trying to reach. Who knows, it might just be helping to make your experience better. Thanks for reading!