In computer networks, a proxy server is a server (a computer system or an application) that acts as an intermediary for requests from clients seeking resources from other servers. A client connects to the proxy server, requesting some service, such as a file, connection, web page, or other resource available from a different server and the proxy server evaluates the request as a way to simplify and control its complexity. Proxies were invented to add structure and encapsulation to distributed systems.In some cases, the proxy may alter the client's request or the server's response for various purposes.
Today, most proxies are web proxies, facilitating access to content on the World Wide Web and providing anonymity.
A proxy server may reside on the user's local computer, or at various points between the user's computer and destination servers on the Internet.
- A proxy server that passes requests and responses unmodified is usually called a gateway or sometimes a tunneling proxy.
- A forward proxy is an Internet-facing proxy used to retrieve from a wide range of sources (in most cases anywhere on the Internet).
- A reverse proxy is usually an Internet-facing proxy used as a front-end to control and protect access to a server on a private network. A reverse proxy commonly also performs tasks such as load-balancing, authentication, decryption or caching.
