A proxy in a network architecture is what its name implies: a stand in. A proxy server sits between corporate client machines and the Internet. Sometimes it is a stand-alone product; more often, it is functionality built into other software. A forward proxy stands in the way of the Internet and receives data from client machines bound for the Internet and forwards it on on their behalf. A reverse proxy stands in the way of servers within the corporate network and receives data bound for them, and distributes it on.

(See a detailed list of all proxy servers.)more