Proxy Server - Working

A user visits a website by submitting a direct request to its web server through its IP address using a web browser. The web server then returns to the user with a response containing the website data. In this situation, the user’s public IP address is visible.

A proxy server functions as an intermediate between the user and the web server. Proxy servers hide the user’s correct address from web servers by using a different IP address on their behalf.

A user visits a website by submitting a direct request to its web server through its IP address using a web browser. 

The proxy server accepts the request from the client and produces a response based on the following conditions:

• If the requested data or page already exists in the local cache, the proxy server itself provides the required retrieval to the client.
• If the requested data or page does not exist in the local cache, the proxy server forwards that request to the destination server.
• The proxy servers transfer the replies to the client and are cached to them.

The following is how a basic proxy server setup works:

• A user types the URL of a website into their browser.

• The user’s request is received by the proxy server.

• The request is sent to the webserver by the proxy server.

• The proxy server receives a response (website data) from the web server.

• The response is sent to the user via the proxy server.

You might be interested in,

• Proxy Server - Introduction
• Proxy Server - Types

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