Proxy Glossary
Proxy terms and error codes, defined in a sentence or two.
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Anonymous ProxyAn anonymous proxy hides your device's IP address by forwarding traffic through its own IP, though it may reveal that a proxy is in use.Antidetect BrowserAn antidetect browser creates isolated browsing profiles and changes fingerprint attributes that websites use to link visits, such as user agent, screen size and time zone.API (Application Programming Interface)API (Application Programming Interface) is a defined interface that lets software request data or actions from another system without accessing its internal code.AudioContext FingerprintingAudioContext fingerprinting is a browser identification technique that measures small differences in Web Audio API processing and turns the result into a fingerprint signal.Autonomous System Number (ASN)An Autonomous System Number (ASN) identifies a network under one routing policy. BGP uses public ASNs as globally unique labels when networks exchange IP routes.
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Backconnect ProxyA backconnect proxy is a gateway that routes your requests through changing exit IPs from a proxy pool while you keep using the same host and port.BandwidthBandwidth is a network connection's data-carrying capacity per second, usually measured in bits per second (bps).Bandwidth SharingBandwidth sharing is the voluntary use of spare internet capacity to carry other users' traffic, often making a device's public IP an exit point for a proxy network.Beautiful SoupBeautiful Soup is a Python library that parses HTML and XML into a searchable tree, making it easier to extract and clean data from web pages.Bot DetectionBot detection is the process websites use to identify automated traffic from network, browser and behavioral signals, then allow, challenge, limit or block it.BotnetA botnet is a network of compromised devices controlled without their owners' permission to send spam, steal data, spread malware or launch coordinated attacks.Browser FingerprintingBrowser fingerprinting is a tracking and risk-analysis technique that combines browser, device and rendering signals to recognize a client without relying only on cookies or IPs.
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Canvas FingerprintingCanvas fingerprinting is a browser identification technique that hashes subtle differences in how a device draws graphics, helping sites recognize a browser without a cookie.CAPTCHACAPTCHA (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart) is a challenge or risk check used to distinguish people from automated programs.CDN (Content Delivery Network)CDN (Content Delivery Network) is a distributed group of edge servers that delivers website content closer to users, reducing delay and origin-server load.CGNAT (Carrier-Grade NAT)CGNAT (Carrier-Grade NAT) is ISP-run address translation that lets many customers share one public IPv4 address, conserving scarce IPv4 space.ConcurrencyConcurrency is the number of operations in progress or connections open at the same time. A concurrency limit controls how much work a proxy client can overlap.Connection TimeoutA connection timeout occurs when a client can't establish a network connection before its time limit expires, so the request ends without an HTTP response.CookieA cookie is a small name-value record a website asks your browser to store and return with later requests, often to preserve login state or preferences.CSS SelectorA CSS selector is a pattern that matches HTML elements by tag, class, ID, attribute or position. Scrapers use selectors to locate data in a page's DOM.cURLcURL is a command-line tool that transfers data with URLs. Developers use it to call APIs, download pages, test headers and troubleshoot proxies.
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Data ParsingData parsing reads raw text or documents, identifies their structure and converts selected values into structured fields for storage or analysis.Datacenter ProxyA datacenter proxy routes your traffic through a server on a hosting network, changing the source IP address that websites see.Dedicated ProxyA dedicated proxy is a proxy IP reserved for one customer instead of shared across customers, so only that customer uses it while assigned.Distorting ProxyA distorting proxy is an HTTP proxy that hides your client IP, discloses that a proxy is in use and places a false client IP in forwarding headers.DNS (Domain Name System)DNS (Domain Name System) translates domain names such as example.com into IP addresses that computers use to locate services on a network.DNS LeakA DNS leak happens when domain lookups bypass your intended proxy or VPN route, exposing requested domains and your original network to a DNS resolver.
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Elite ProxyAn elite proxy, also called a high-anonymity proxy, hides your source IP and avoids adding headers that disclose proxy use, though sites may detect it by other signals.Exponential BackoffExponential backoff is a retry strategy that increases the wait after each failed request, reducing pressure on an overloaded or rate-limiting server.
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Forward ProxyA forward proxy handles a client's outbound requests, relaying them to websites so those destinations usually see the proxy's IP address instead of the client's.Fraud ScoreA fraud score is a risk rating that estimates how likely an IP address, device, account or transaction is to be associated with fraud or abuse.
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Geo-BlockingGeo-blocking restricts or changes access to online content based on a user's estimated geographic location, usually inferred from their IP address.Geo-TargetingGeo-targeting is the selection of a proxy exit IP by country, state, city or network so websites see the request as coming from the chosen area.
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Headless BrowserA headless browser is a web browser that runs without a visible window, letting code load pages, execute JavaScript and automate interactions.HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the request-response protocol clients and servers use to transfer web pages, API data and other resources.HTTP HeadersHTTP headers are name-value fields sent with web requests and responses. They describe the client, content, credentials, caching and how each message should be handled.HTTP ProxyAn HTTP proxy is a forward proxy for web traffic. It sends HTTP requests or tunnels HTTPS connections so websites see the proxy's IP instead of yours.HTTP RedirectAn HTTP redirect is a 3xx response that tells a client to request another URL, usually through a Location header.HTTPS ProxyAn HTTPS proxy is a forward proxy that carries traffic to HTTPS websites, usually through a CONNECT tunnel, so the destination sees the proxy's exit IP instead of yours.
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Internet Service Provider (ISP)An Internet Service Provider (ISP) runs the access network that connects your home, office or mobile device to the internet and carries its traffic.IP AddressAn IP address is a numerical label for a network interface that lets devices identify endpoints and route data across an IP network.IP BanAn IP ban blocks requests from a specific public IP address or network range, usually after a website or security layer flags traffic from that source.IP BlacklistAn IP blacklist is a list of IP addresses or ranges denied access to a network or service because they are associated with abuse, suspicious traffic or a local rule.IP GeolocationIP geolocation maps a public IP address to an estimated country, region or city, often with ISP and ASN data. It doesn't reveal a device's exact location.IP ReputationIP reputation is an assessment of how trustworthy an IP address appears based on its network, history and activity. Sites use it to allow, challenge or block traffic.IP RotationIP rotation is the process of changing the public IP address that a website sees between requests or after a set session, usually using addresses from a proxy pool.IP WhitelistingIP whitelisting, also called IP allowlisting, grants access only to connections or requests from approved source IP addresses or ranges.IPv4IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) is the 32-bit addressing and routing system that identifies network interfaces and moves packets between them.IPv6IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) uses 128-bit addresses to identify network interfaces and route packets across networks, providing far more addresses than IPv4.ISP ProxyAn ISP proxy routes traffic through an IP address associated with an internet service provider, usually keeping the same exit IP for stable sessions.
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LatencyLatency is the delay between sending data and receiving a response, usually measured in milliseconds. Lower latency makes network requests feel more responsive.Load BalancerA load balancer distributes network requests across multiple backend servers, helping prevent overload and route traffic away from unhealthy servers.
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PlaywrightPlaywright is a browser automation library that controls Chromium, Firefox and WebKit for testing, web scraping and scripted browser workflows.PortA port is a number from 0 to 65535 that directs TCP or UDP traffic to the right service on a device, such as 443 for HTTPS or 22 for SSH.Proxy AuthenticationProxy authentication checks that your app may use a proxy, usually with a username and password, before the proxy forwards requests.Proxy ListA proxy list is a collection of proxy server endpoints, often with ports, credentials and location data, that a tool can select or rotate through.Proxy PoolA proxy pool is a collection of proxy servers or exit IPs that software can select from to distribute requests, change source addresses and replace unavailable routes.Proxy ServerA proxy server is an intermediary that receives and forwards network traffic. A forward proxy makes destinations see its exit IP instead of the client's public IP.PuppeteerPuppeteer is a JavaScript library for controlling Chrome and Firefox from Node.js, often used to test sites, render pages and scrape dynamic content.
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Rate LimitingRate limiting is a server-side control that caps how many requests a client can make in a period, protecting services from overload, abuse and unfair use.Residential ProxyA residential proxy routes your traffic through an IP assigned to a household internet connection, changing the address and apparent location websites see.Reverse ProxyA reverse proxy sits in front of one or more web servers and receives requests on their behalf, often to balance load, cache content or filter traffic.robots.txtrobots.txt is a public file at a website's root that tells compliant web crawlers which URL paths they may or may not crawl.Rotating ProxyA rotating proxy gives you a different exit IP on every request or after a set time, drawn from a pool of addresses.
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ScrapyScrapy is an open-source Python framework for building web crawlers that request pages, follow links and extract structured data.SeleniumSelenium is an open-source browser automation suite used to test web apps, interact with JavaScript pages and collect rendered data.SERP (Search Engine Results Page)A SERP (Search Engine Results Page) is the page a search engine returns for a query, combining organic links, ads and features such as maps, images and answer boxes.Shared ProxyA shared proxy is a proxy whose exit IP can be used by multiple customers. It changes the IP websites see, but other users can affect its reputation or performance.SOCKS4 ProxyA SOCKS4 proxy relays TCP connections through an intermediary using an IPv4 address and port. It changes the source IP a destination sees but doesn't encrypt traffic.SOCKS5 ProxyA SOCKS5 proxy relays TCP connections and UDP datagrams through another server, changing the source IP seen by the destination without interpreting application traffic.SSL/TLSSSL/TLS is the technology that authenticates servers and encrypts data in transit. SSL is obsolete; modern secure connections use TLS.Static ProxyA static proxy sends your traffic through the same exit IP across connections, giving websites a consistent source address until the IP is replaced or reassigned.Sticky SessionA sticky session keeps the same exit IP for a set time, so a series of related requests comes from one address instead of a new one each time.SubnetA subnet is a logical subdivision of an IP network, defined by a network prefix. It helps devices decide which addresses are local and which need a router.
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TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) is a transport protocol that provides a reliable, ordered byte stream between applications over an IP network.TLS FingerprintingTLS fingerprinting identifies client software from patterns in its TLS handshake, helping websites distinguish browsers, apps and automated tools.TorTor is a privacy network that sends connections through several volunteer relays using onion routing, so destinations see an exit relay's IP instead of yours.Transparent ProxyA transparent proxy intercepts and forwards network traffic without requiring proxy settings on the user's device, usually for filtering, caching or monitoring.TTFB (Time to First Byte)TTFB (Time to First Byte) is the time from starting an HTTP request until the first response byte arrives, indicating network delay and initial server response time.
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UDP (User Datagram Protocol)UDP (User Datagram Protocol) is a connectionless transport protocol that sends separate datagrams without delivery confirmation, ordering or retransmission.UptimeUptime is the percentage of a measured period when a server, network or proxy service is operational and able to handle requests.User AgentA user agent is a browser, app or bot that sends an HTTP User-Agent header describing its software and platform to a website.
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Virgin ProxyA virgin proxy is a proxy advertised as using an exit IP with no previous proxy-user history. The label isn't standardized and doesn't guarantee a clean reputation.VPN (Virtual Private Network)A VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates an encrypted tunnel to a VPN gateway, which can route your traffic through another network and change your public IP.
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Web Application Firewall (WAF)A web application firewall (WAF) filters HTTP traffic before it reaches a web app, blocking requests that match attack, abuse or bot-detection rules.Web CrawlerA web crawler is an automated program that discovers and fetches web pages by following links, usually for search indexing, site audits or data collection.Web ScrapingWeb scraping is the automated extraction of data from web pages. A scraper selects fields such as prices or titles and saves them in a structured format.WebGL FingerprintingWebGL fingerprinting helps websites recognize browsers by measuring graphics hardware, drivers and rendering behavior exposed through the WebGL API.WebRTC LeakA WebRTC leak occurs when browser-based WebRTC reveals an IP address outside your intended proxy or VPN path, exposing network details to a site or communication peer.WebSocketWebSocket is a protocol for two-way, real-time messages between a client and server over one long-lived connection, without a new HTTP request for every update.WPAD (Web Proxy Auto-Discovery)WPAD (Web Proxy Auto-Discovery) is a method that lets devices find a PAC file automatically, so web traffic can follow network proxy rules without manual setup.
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5G ProxyA 5G proxy routes your traffic through a proxy endpoint connected to a 5G mobile network, so the destination sees a cellular carrier's egress IP.403 Forbidden403 Forbidden is an HTTP status code sent when a website, CDN, firewall or managed proxy understands a request but refuses to fulfill it.407 Proxy Authentication Required407 Proxy Authentication Required is the error your proxy returns when it didn't receive valid credentials. The request never reached the website.429 Too Many Requests429 Too Many Requests is an HTTP response sent when a client exceeds a request-rate or quota limit. It tells the client to slow down and retry later.502 Bad Gateway502 Bad Gateway is an HTTP error sent by a gateway or proxy when it receives an invalid response from the upstream server it contacted.503 Service Unavailable503 Service Unavailable is an HTTP status code saying a server or intermediary can't handle the request right now, usually because of overload or maintenance.504 Gateway Timeout504 Gateway Timeout is an HTTP error sent by a gateway or proxy when an upstream server doesn't respond in time, preventing it from completing the request.
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