What is a proxy server? [2022 guide]

Q What is a proxy server ？

A proxy server , I.e. agency , It is the medium between you and the Internet . When you use a proxy server , Your request first passes through the proxy server （ Change your IP Address ） function , Then connect to the website .

Type of agency

There are many different types of agents . In terms of its source , The most common are residential agents and data center agents .

A residential agent

The residential agent is made up of ISP（ Internet service provider ） Provided to homeowners IP Address . It's the reality attached to the physical location IP Address , Therefore, users are allowed to imitate natural browsing behavior when crawling web pages , Thus reducing the probability of being blocked by the target website , And hide the truth behind the residential agent IP Address has higher security .

Data center agents

Data center agents Not subordinate to ISP, Only imitate the real Internet connection . They come from secondary companies , Provide you with completely private IP Authentication and anonymity .

Besides , Agents can also be classified as private by their access type （ A dedicated ） Or shared .

Sharing agents

Shared agents are used by multiple users at the same time , This means that other end users can also access it . therefore Shared agents tend to perform poorly , With all kinds of potential additional risks .

Private agent

A private agent is an agent for only one user , This kind of agent is also called special agent , Provide users with Completely private IP authentication 、 Anonymity and high overall performance level .

Other agent types

You may also encounter more other types of agents when browsing the web , To help you better understand them ,Oxylabs It lists several common types on the Internet ：

SOCKS5 agent

SOCKS5 Agents are usually used for Traffic intensive network tasks , Such as uploading or downloading files 、 Content stream 、VoIP（ be based on IP Voice transmission of ） Or video call .

HTTP agent

HTTP Agents have many uses . Such agents can act as two intermediary roles —— As HTTP Client and HTTP The server , For safety and many other purposes .HTTP The agent acts as a tunnel , Will come from Web Browser's HTTP Requests are routed to the Internet . meanwhile , It can also support other beneficial functions , For example, caching Web Data to get faster loading speed .

mobile agent

Mobile agents route their users through mobile devices connected to cellular networks Web request . In other words , Mobile agents use both as their ISP Mobile network operators （MNO） Dynamically assigned to mobile devices IP Address .

Rotation agent

Rotation agent , Also known as rotation housing agent , Because of its rotation nature , Therefore, it is more difficult to detect （ This means that the agent IP Will constantly change and keep you unobstructed ）, It is very suitable for challenging goals around the world .

Anonymous proxy

Anonymous agents are also called anonymous , It can be used to maintain your privacy on the Internet . Using anonymous proxy can ensure your IP The address will never be revealed , So you can visit the website you want to visit , At the same time, reduce the risk of being blocked .

How does the agency work ？

As a gateway between your device and the Internet , Proxy servers are often used to enhance network privacy 、 Bypass content filters and other factors . The agent can handle network traffic through the server to complete all these and even more tasks , Then forward the web data to your device .

What can agents do ？

Personal use agents

For ordinary Internet users , Agents can be used when users need Keep Internet browsing private Play a role when . what's more , When it's true IP When the address does not have access to some geographically restricted content , A proxy bound to a specific location can unlock this specific information .

Agents for commercial purposes

At the enterprise level , In addition to the above functions , Proxy server will be widely used in enterprises Monitor Internet usage between organizations . meanwhile , Many enterprises will use agents to Execute their daily operations , For example, use ad verification to anonymously check the advertiser's login page , Travel fare aggregators use agents to crawl flight prices , And there's no need to worry about IP Blockade or prohibition . Agents can also be used to obtain pricing data （ For example MAP monitor ）、 Buy limited edition products and other aspects .

Do you need a proxy server ？

It mainly depends on what you plan to do . If you just want to hide your IP Address , Then using virtual private network is more than enough . But if you want to collect a lot of data , Then the proxy server may be more suitable for you . Especially in the face of large-scale network crawling operations , You need a large number of agents to successfully connect to the required data source through automatic network capture script .

 

Virtual private network VS agent , Which is better? ？

In different circumstances , Virtual private networks and agents have their own strengths . When a large amount of data needs to be transmitted or retrieved , Agency is usually more applicable . Compared with virtual private network , Every time GB Proxy servers for data are much cheaper , And it can provide better connection speed . Virtual private networks are usually more suitable for all-round use and privacy purposes .

  summary

From developing business opportunities to increasing potential profits , And then to enhance the privacy and security of browsing , Agents can provide almost every Internet user with the support they need . If you have any questions about the proxy server , Or want to know more about it , You can read about article Learn more about , Or through Website Contact wechat customer service .