What is a proxy server? Easily explained
Proxy server is a term that you probably encountered in connection with your browser or while surfing. We explain what a Proy server is and what you can do with it in our practical tip.
What is a proxy server?
If you establish an Internet connection with your computer, for example to access a website, send the client your IP address, which belongs to your PC, comparable to a digital fingerprint.
- When you access a website as a client, you send a request to the server that contains the content of the website and the server sends the content back to you.
- A proxy server is a server that is connected between your PC and the target server. He acts as a middleman, so to speak.
- If you send a request with the proxy server activated, it first arrives at the proxy server. The latter then forwards the request with its own IP address. The content from the target server is sent back to the proxy server and then forwarded to you.
What is a proxy server for?
A proxy server can serve several purposes:
- Obviously, using a proxy server can disguise your identity. Your own IP address is not sent, but that of the proxy.
- Proxy servers can also serve as a cache. Websites or content that are often required can be cached on the proxy server. This means that not every request that arrives at the proxy has to be forwarded to the target server. If the requested content is in the proxy cache, it will be sent back to you directly.
- If you are using a proxy server that is located abroad, you can pretend that the target server does not come from Germany. For example, you can bypass GEMA blocks on YouTube or watch Hulu in Germany.
- We have clarified for you to what extent the so-called circumvention of proxy blocks is legal.
- And in another practical tip, we will of course also tell you how to set up such a proxy server. The best known proxy service is Tor.
