What is Proxy Server?

An intermediary server that forwards requests between client and target.

A proxy server is an intermediary that sits between your client and the destination server. Instead of connecting directly, your request goes to the proxy, which forwards it on your behalf and returns the response. This hides your real IP, lets you appear to originate from a different location, and enables centralized control over outgoing traffic. Proxy servers differ from VPNs in that they typically operate per-application rather than tunneling an entire device's traffic. A proxy that forwards clients' outbound requests in this way — used for web scraping, geo-testing, and anonymity — is more precisely called a forward proxy. Its counterpart, the reverse proxy, reverses the role: it sits in front of one or more origin servers to handle inbound traffic, commonly providing load balancing, caching, TLS termination, and protection from direct exposure (tools like NGINX and Cloudflare act as reverse proxies).