Let's understand how a proxy server works and the criteria for choosing a provider

What is a proxy server?

A proxy serveris an intermediate server that sits between the client and the target site. It serves as a bridge for communication, providing an additional level ofsecurityandprivacyby masking the client's IP address.

When a client sends an HTTP request to a website, the request is intercepted by the proxy server, which forwards it to the recipient on behalf of the client. The site responds to the proxy server, which in turn sends the response back to the client. This process helps protect the identity of the client because the target site sees the requests as coming from the proxy server.

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This mechanism provides various benefits, including:

• Improved performance through caching
• Prevent IP blocking, captcha and user fingerprinting
• Access to geographically restricted content
• Bandwidth regulation and speed limit bypass
• Enhanced security

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Types of proxy servers

Proxy servers can be used for a variety of purposes, from enhancing security and privacy to optimizing network performance. That is, there are different types of proxy servers, each with its own characteristics. Based on this, they can be divided into several categories. Let's take a look at the most popular ones

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By IP address location

According to the IP address provided to the user, they can be categorized into:
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• Data Center Proxy Servers:these servers are hosted in data centers and provide IP addresses that are not associated with any Internet Service Provider (ISP) or location. They are fast, but sites can easily detect and block them because of their identifiable IP address ranges.
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• Resident proxy servers:offer IP addresses assigned to real resident devices. They guarantee a high level of anonymity because they appear as regular IP addresses from a specific location. Resident proxy servers are ideal for accessing sites that use geographical restrictions or anti-bot measures.
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• Internet Service Provider Proxy Servers:expose static resident IP addresses provided by Internet Service Providers (ISPs). They are fast, secure, very reliable and are an ideal solution for SEO monitoring, web browsing and market research.
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• Mobile proxy servers:their IP addresses come from real mobile devices. They provide a high level of anonymity and are useful for accessing mobile applications, websites or content. Learn more in our detailed guide to proxy IP address types.
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Learn more in ourdetailed guide to proxy IP address types.

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By IP address rotation

These types of proxy servers are categorized by whether they provide a fixed IP address or an IP address that changes over time:
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• Static proxy servers:use a fixed IP address for each connection request. They provide a constant and stable IP address for the duration of the proxy session. This is useful whenever you need to perform operations based on the IP addresses.
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• Rotary proxy servers:dynamically change the IP address for each connection or after a certain period or number of requests. This type of proxy server ideal for appearing as a different user at all times, and allows you to bypass the speed limits imposed by anti-bot and scraping protection systems.
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By user use

Depending on the type of access they offer to users, distinguish:
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• Shared proxy servers:multiple users can access the same server at the same time. These proxy servers are economical and are suitable for normal browsing or working with non-confidential information. They can be less reliable and may affect performance if many users use the same proxy server.
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• Dedicated proxy servers:servers that provide exclusive use to a single user. They provide better performance, reliability, and enhanced security than shared proxy servers. Typically, dedicated proxy servers are useful for tasks that require dedicated resources or involve sensitive information.
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By level of anonymity

There is a different type of proxy server for each of the three levels of anonymity:
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• Transparent Proxy Servers (level 3):reveal to the target server your IP address and the fact that you are using a proxy server. They are common because they do not need to be configured on the user's device. They do not guarantee anonymity and are mainly used for caching or content filtering.
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• Anonymous proxy servers (level 2):hide your address from the target server, but may add headers indicating the use of a proxy server. They provide some level of anonymity, but their requests can still be detected advanced proxy protection measures.
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• Elite proxies (level 3):replace your IP address with a new one and remove all your identity information from the headers HTTP. They provide the highest level of anonymity by completely hiding your IP address and avoiding any headers associated with the proxy server. Elite proxy servers are less likely to be detected by anti-bot technologies and are suitable for scenarios that require maximum anonymity.
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Per protocol

Depending on the ISO/OSI level they operate at, you may find:
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• HTTP/HTTPS proxies:work at the application layer, processing HTTP and HTTPS traffic. They can intercept, filter and modify HTTP requests and responses.
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• SOCKS proxies:operate at the transport layer and can handle a variety of protocols including HTTP, FTP and SMTP. They provide high flexibility and are typically used to route traffic through firewalls or for applications requiring traffic other than HTTP.
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• SSL proxy:A gateway for TLS (Transport Layer Security) connections. They decrypt and re-encrypt data, offering a higher level of anonymity than HTTP and HTTPS proxies. Read our article on SSL proxies to learn more. Read our comparison article to understand the difference between SOCKS and HTTPS proxies.