A proxy, or proxy server, is a computer system or software that acts as a gateway between a local network and a large network like the internet. When you request a website or online resource through a proxy, the request is forwarded by the proxy server, which can modify it if necessary. The response from the internet then comes back to the proxy server, which forwards it to you.

: By acting as a middleman, a proxy hides your IP address from the destination website, providing a layer of online privacy : Some proxies can filter incoming traffic to protect against malicious content Common Access Methods Web-Based Proxies

Suddenly, the screen flickered. The familiar interface of the blocked site appeared, but it looked different through the lens of Elias's custom proxy. The edges were blurred, the advertisements stripped away by his script.