A proxy server is an intermediary server (AKA: a computer) that functions between your device and the internet. When you send a request through a proxy, that request goes to the proxy server first. The proxy then forwards it to the destination website on your behalf, and the response comes back the same way.

From the website’s perspective, the request is coming from the proxy, not from you. That means the site sees the proxy’s IP address instead of yours. This is the central reason people use proxies: to mask their real IP address or make it appear as though they’re browsing from a different location.

Individuals may choose to do this for privacy reasons or to access content that is restricted by geo-blocking. Organizations, on the other hand, will use proxy servers to control which websites their employees can reach. They can also cache frequently accessed content to reduce bandwidth usage. 

There are two main forms of proxy servers: 

1. A forward proxy handles outbound requests from users to the internet
2. A reverse proxy manages incoming traffic to a web server

Unlike a VPN, a proxy typically doesn’t encrypt your connection. It changes where your traffic appears to come from, but it doesn’t protect the contents of that traffic in transit.