A proxy server is a server application that acts as an intermediary between a client requesting a resource and the server providing that resource. It is essentially a computer on the internet that has its own IP address and provides a gateway between users and the internet. When a computer connects to the internet, it uses an IP address to mark outgoing data with a return address for other devices to authenticate. Instead of connecting directly to a server that can fulfill a request for a resource, such as a file or web page, the client directs the request to the proxy server, which evaluates the request and performs the required network transactions.
Proxy servers provide varying levels of functionality, security, and privacy depending on the users needs or company policy. They can be used to improve privacy, security, and performance, as well as to simplify or control the complexity of a request, or provide additional benefits such as load balancing. Proxies were devised to add structure and encapsulation to distributed systems.
A proxy server may reside on the users local computer, or at any point between the users computer and destination servers on the Internet. A proxy server that passes unmodified requests and responses is usually called a gateway or sometimes a tunneling proxy. A forward proxy is an Internet-facing proxy used to retrieve data from a wide range of sources.
In summary, a proxy server is a system or router that provides a gateway between users and the internet, and it helps prevent cyber attackers from entering a private network. It can be used to improve privacy, security, and performance, and it provides varying levels of functionality depending on the users needs or company policy.
