A proxy server sits between your app and the internet. It can mask your IP address for a browser, app, crawler, or testing workflow while giving you more control over location, routing, and request identity.
How proxies work
A proxy changes the route for configured traffic. Instead of a website receiving a request directly from your network, it receives the request from the proxy server.
- Your app connects to a proxy: a browser, app, crawler, or device sends traffic to the proxy server instead of connecting directly to the destination website.
- The proxy forwards the request: the destination receives the request from the proxy IP address, so your original IP address is not the first address it sees.
- The proxy returns the response: the website response flows back through the proxy to your app.
Common proxy types
- Residential proxies: use IP addresses associated with consumer ISP networks.
- Datacenter proxies: use IP addresses from hosting and cloud networks.
- Mobile proxies: use carrier network addresses for mobile-specific testing and research.
- Rotating proxies: change IPs automatically from a pool.
- Dedicated proxies: assign one IP to one customer or workflow.
- HTTP, HTTPS, and SOCKS proxies: support different apps, protocols, and traffic types.
What can you use proxies for?
Proxies are commonly used for browser privacy, proxy detection checks, location testing, web scraping, monitoring, SEO research, and comparing privacy tools such as VPNs and Tor.
How to choose a proxy provider
Proxy quality depends on the IP source, location accuracy, network reputation, uptime, authentication controls, performance, privacy policy, and how well the provider fits your workload.
Proxy FAQs
01What is a proxy server?
A proxy server is an intermediary that forwards requests between your app and a destination website. The destination sees the proxy IP address instead of your original IP address.
02Do proxies hide my IP address?
Yes, for traffic routed through the proxy. Apps or browsers that are not configured to use the proxy may still reveal your normal IP address.
03Are proxies the same as VPNs?
No. A VPN usually routes and encrypts most device traffic. A proxy usually works at the browser, app, or protocol level and may not encrypt every connection.
04Are free proxies safe?
Free proxies can be risky because they may log traffic, inject ads, modify content, disappear without notice, or be blocked by many websites.
05What proxy type should I choose?
Use residential proxies for consumer-network realism, datacenter proxies for speed and cost, mobile proxies for carrier-specific testing, rotating proxies for high-volume workflows, and dedicated proxies for consistent sessions.
06How do I know a proxy is working?
Configure the proxy, refresh this page, and confirm the public IP address, network, location, or proxy status changed.