Proxy Server
A proxy server is an intermediary server that sits between a client (e.g., a user's device) and other servers, forwarding requests and responses. It can be used for caching content, filtering traffic, enhancing security, or anonymizing user identities by masking IP addresses. Proxies operate at various network layers, such as HTTP/HTTPS for web traffic or SOCKS for general TCP/IP connections.
Developers should learn about proxy servers when building applications that require network optimization, security, or privacy features, such as web scraping, load balancing, or bypassing geo-restrictions. They are essential in enterprise environments for monitoring and controlling internet access, and in distributed systems for caching and reducing latency.