What is a Proxy Server?
A proxy server is a middleman between your device and the internet. It forwards your traffic to websites and services, which can hide your real IP address and help with access control or caching - but it doesn't automatically make you anonymous or secure.
How a Proxy Server Works
When you use a proxy, your app connects to the proxy first. Then the proxy makes the request to the destination on your behalf.
- Your browser/app sends a request to the proxy
- The proxy forwards it to the website
- The website replies to the proxy
- The proxy returns the response to you
The destination site sees the proxy's IP address (not your original IP). You can verify what sites see by using our IP lookup tool.
Common Types of Proxies
HTTP / HTTPS proxy
Common for web traffic. Some proxies can filter or log HTTP requests.
SOCKS proxy (often SOCKS5)
Works for more than just web browsing (for example, apps that support SOCKS). It's popular for flexibility.
Transparent / corporate proxy
Used by companies or ISPs for filtering and caching. You might not even know it's there.
Proxy vs VPN (Quick Difference)
A VPN encrypts traffic and routes it through a VPN server at the device level. A proxy usually only applies to a single app and often does not encrypt your traffic.
If you want a deeper comparison, read Proxy vs VPN.
Why Proxy Detection Is Hard
Many proxy checks rely on indirect signals like reverse DNS hostnames, network ownership (ASN/ISP), and headers. Try our Proxy Check, and if you need hostname clues, use Reverse DNS.