When developing a website, you’ll probably want to test it out on various IP addresses worldwide or in different regions and cities. But that’s not all. You might also need to test how your site works for people using proxies
. These are private, temporary internet addresses that hide the identity of the user’s actual IP address, which may or may not be public.
And even if you’re not doing business internationally, you might still run into situations where you need to use specific local or specialized IP addresses that are only accessible in certain parts of the world.
The way this is done is by using a proxy server. A proxy server is a program that acts as a middleman between a user making a request and the server fulfilling that request. The server separates the user and the online pages they want to access. The most popular type of proxy server is residential proxies.
The following list will go into detail on the various ways proxies are used in website and mobile development:
1. Access To A Wide Range Of Specialized IP Addresses
To function correctly, websites and mobile apps must access a wide range of global, local, or specialized IP addresses. A proxy server, such as ProxyEmpire, allows developers to mask the location of their app or website so it can appear to be accessing an IP address from a different part of the world.
This is done for performance reasons. Instead of connecting to a server located worldwide, which could take longer to load, the developer can use a closer proxy server. They can also be used for censorship and security purposes.
2. Protects Your Identity
The IP address of your computer or mobile device is the gateway to your identity in the digital world. It’s how your network and Internet Service Provider (ISP) identify you as a person using their service. While this can be helpful to many, it can leave you vulnerable to hackers and cybercrimes.
Your IP address is public information anyone on the web can easily access. Some sites use this information for similar purposes, to identify who you are, what site you were last on, how frequently you visited a site, and even what operating system you typically use.
Hackers can use this information to steal your personal information (like usernames and passwords) to gain access to your computer or mobile device. By hiding your IP address from malicious users, a proxy allows you to remain anonymous and keep your real identity safe from harm. Because your critical data will be routed through that proxy server, selecting a trustworthy and honest proxy provider is critical for your peace of mind.
3. Requests Filtering
Proxy servers can be used to filter requests coming from other websites. It is used by businesses to verify that internet usage adheres to local policies. Authentication can be enabled to assist administrators in controlling the content delivered while distributing internet access.
It is critical to allow only specific hosts to bypass the proxy to prevent malicious content and block websites that display distracting content. Furthermore, it can prevent employees from visiting inappropriate websites during working hours.
4. Geolocation Testing
Many websites now use geolocation technology in personalizing their web content and redirecting visitors to the appropriate page based on the location from which they came. According to recent trends, localized content has recently gained popularity among web communities. Implementing such a technology was not difficult, as APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are available.
However, geolocation testing will be complex because not everyone can access IP addresses from different countries. This is when proxy servers can be useful. You can now accurately test and successfully implement your geolocation feature by using proxy servers located in various locations around the world. Many open proxies offer free proxy services, but you must be cautious when choosing one.
5. Efficiency
Proxy servers can also cache your web pages, making web delivery more efficient. It speeds up access to documents by constantly looking in the local cache for downloaded results of every request, such as images and other graphical content.
Because the server is usually on the same network as the user, the request is not forwarded to the external site each time; the next request for that same page can be obtained much faster. This improves end-user performance significantly. Proxy servers can significantly reduce upstream bandwidth usage and costs when hundreds or thousands of users are on the same network.
Conclusion
As technological advancements increase, the use of proxy servers will increase. Whether for business or personal use, proxy servers have proven vital to mobile and web development advancement.