Proxy server

In computer networks, a proxy server is a server (a computer system or an application) that acts as an intermediary for requests from clients seeking resources from other servers.[1] A client connects to the proxy server, requesting some service, such as a file, connection, web page, or other resource available from a different server and the proxy server evaluates the request as a way to simplify and control its complexity. Proxies were invented to add structure and encapsulation to distributed systems.[2] Today, most proxies are web proxies, facilitating access to content on the World Wide Web and providing anonymity.

References

  1. World-Wide Web Proxies, Ari Luotonen, April 1994
  2. Structure and Encapsulation in Distributed Systems: the Proxy Principle . Marc Shapiro. Int. Conf. on Dist. Comp. Sys. (ICDCS), Cambridge MA (USA), May 1986.