Proxy server
Also known as: proxy, what is a proxy, web proxy
A proxy server is an intermediary that forwards your web requests on your behalf, so sites see the proxy’s address instead of yours. Unlike a VPN, a basic proxy usually covers only one app or browser and does not encrypt all of your device’s traffic.
- Forwards requests so sites see the proxy’s IP
- Often per-app and unencrypted, unlike a VPN
- Common for caching and content filtering
How a proxy works
When you use a proxy, your request goes to the proxy first, which fetches the page and passes it back to you. The destination site sees the proxy’s IP address rather than your own, which is why proxies are used to change apparent location or filter access.
A proxy typically applies to a single app or browser you point at it, not the whole device. Many proxies do not encrypt traffic, so they are weaker for privacy than a VPN, which encrypts everything system-wide.
Proxy vs VPN
The key difference is scope and encryption. A VPN secures all traffic from the device inside an encrypted tunnel; a proxy usually reroutes one app’s requests and may send them in the clear. Proxies are common in workplaces and schools for caching and content filtering.
Neither a proxy nor a VPN uses meaningful storage on your device — they change how traffic is routed, not how files are stored.