Proxy Server

Uses

A proxy server has a variety of potential purposes, including:

To keep machines behind it anonymous, mainly for security.
To speed up access to resources (using caching). Web proxies are commonly used to cache web pages from a web server.
To prevent downloading the same content multiple times (and save bandwidth).
To log / audit usage, e.g. to provide company employee Internet usage reporting.
To scan transmitted content for malware before delivery.
To scan outbound content, e.g., for data loss prevention.
Access enhancement/restriction
- To apply access policy to network services or content, e.g. to block undesired sites.
- To access sites prohibited or filtered by your ISP or institution.
- To bypass security / parental controls.
- To circumvent Internet filtering to access content otherwise blocked by governments.
- To allow a web site to make web requests to externally hosted resources (e.g. images, music files, etc.) when cross-domain restrictions prohibit the web site from linking directly to the outside domains.
- To allow the browser to make web requests to externally hosted content on behalf of a website when cross-domain restrictions (in place to protect websites from the likes of data theft) prohibit the browser from directly accessing the outside domains.