# Proxy In [computer networking](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_networking), a proxy server is a [server application](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Server_application) that acts as an [intermediary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermediary) between a [client](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Client_\(computing\)) requesting a [resource](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_resource) and the server providing that resource. Instead of connecting directly to a server that can fulfill a request for a resource, such as a file or [web page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_page), 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, or provide additional benefits such as [load balancing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Load_balancing_\(computing\)), privacy, or security. Proxies were devised to add structure and [encapsulation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encapsulation_\(networking\)) to [distributed systems](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distributed_computing). 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. Source: