Proxy servers act as intermediaries between client computers and web servers. Regular caching and transparent proxies speed up performance by caching data. Reverse proxies reduce the load on web servers. Anonymous proxies hide personal information.
There are three main types of proxy servers, each of which performs the same basic function of acting as an intermediary between a client computer and a web server. Regular caching proxy servers and transparent proxies both aim to speed up performance by preserving the required data. This caching process can cause data to be delivered faster if it is requested repeatedly. Reverse proxies also work by caching static data, although they are typically part of a server infrastructure and are intended to lighten a web server’s load somewhat. Most proxy servers broadcast the client’s Internet Protocol (IP) address and other information, although there are anonymous proxies that can hide this information.
Traditional proxy servers are meant to cache commonly requested data to speed up the end user’s Internet browsing experience. These servers are typically configured manually by instructing the web browser on a machine to route requests to the proxy. Every time the browser makes a request, the proxy server checks its cache to see if it has the requested information. If it does, the data is delivered at a rate that is typically faster than it would be downloading directly from the web server.
Transparent proxies work in much the same way, but require no client-side configuration. Web browsers on each client machine send requests and receive data without being aware that the information is passing through a proxy. Many large companies use transparent proxies to avoid manually configuring each client, and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) often use them as well. When an ISP uses a transparent proxy, they can effectively reduce the time it takes for users to download commonly accessed sites.
The third major type of proxy server reduces the load experienced by a web server, rather than improving performance for the end user. These reverse proxies are typically built into the server architecture and can handle many requests for static information, such as images and videos. Any dynamically generated information is still sent directly from the web server to the client, although offloading static data can improve performance.
Each of these types of proxy servers typically forwards client information along with requests for data. If a user wants to hide his IP or other personal information, a special anonymous proxy server must be used. These servers work in the same way as other proxies, but do not record or transmit any personal information. Anonymous proxy servers can be traditional caching proxies that a web browser must be configured to use, or can be accessed through a website interface.
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