In computer networking, a proxy server is a server application or appliance that acts as an intermediary for requests from clients seeking resources from servers that provide those resources.[1] A proxy server thus functions on behalf of the client when requesting service, potentially masking the true origin of the request to the resource server.

Instead of connecting directly to a server that can fulfill a requested resource, such as a file or web page for example, the client directs the request to the proxy server, which evaluates the request and performs the required network transactions. This serves as a method to simplify or control the complexity of the request,[2] or provide additional benefits such as load balancing, privacy, or security. Proxies were devised to add structure and encapsulation to distributed systems.

Proxy or agent (law), a substitute authorized to act for another entity or a document which authorizes the agent so to act
Proxy (climate), a measured variable used to infer the value of a variable of interest in climate research
Proxy (statistics), a measured variable used to infer the value of a variable of interest
Healthcare proxy, a document used to specify an agent to make medical decisions for a patient in case they are incapacitated
Proxy abuse (or vicarious abuse), abuse committed on behalf of somebody else
Proxy bullying (or vicarious bullying), bullying committed on behalf of somebody else
Proxy fight, attempting to influence how company shareholders use their proxy votes
Proxy marriage, common amongst European monarchs, where one party is not present in person to their marriage to the other
Proxy murder, a murder committed on behalf of somebody else
Proxy statement, information published related to a U.S. stockholders' meeting
Proxy voting, a vote cast on behalf of an absent person
Proxy war, a war where two powers use third parties as a substitute for fighting each other directly
Torture by proxy, torturing someone on somebody else's behalf