Proxy server
A server that sits between a client and a destination server, forwarding requests and responses on the client's behalf, often adding caching, filtering, security, or logging along the way.
A proxy server is an intermediary that a client talks to instead of talking directly to the destination server. The client sends its request to the proxy, the proxy forwards it to the real destination, and the response travels back the same way. A forward proxy sits in front of clients (routing their outbound traffic); a reverse proxy sits in front of servers (routing inbound traffic to the right backend). Either way, the defining trait is the same: the proxy is in the path and can act on the traffic passing through it.
Proxies exist because that position in the middle is useful. A proxy can cache responses to cut latency, filter or block requests for security, log traffic for auditing, or add capabilities, such as authentication or rate limiting, without the client or the destination server needing to change. The tradeoff is that the proxy becomes a dependency: if it is slow or down, everything routed through it is affected, and if it is not transparent, it can distort the request or response it is meant to just relay.
Proxygate's gateway is a specific kind of proxy: a transparent proxy for paid API access. It sits between an AI agent and an upstream data provider, forwarding the agent's request, injecting the provider's key server-side, metering the call, and returning the genuine response with a signed receipt. The provider sees ordinary traffic and the agent gets the authentic answer, with payment and security handled in the middle rather than by either endpoint.
Related concepts
Proxy server: frequently asked questions
A proxy server is an intermediary that forwards requests from a client to a destination server and relays the response back, often adding caching, filtering, security, or logging in between rather than just passing traffic through unchanged.
A forward proxy sits in front of clients and routes their outbound traffic, often for privacy, filtering, or caching. A reverse proxy sits in front of one or more servers and routes inbound traffic to the right backend, often for load balancing or security.
Yes. Proxygate runs a transparent proxy between AI agents and upstream data providers: it forwards the agent's request, injects the provider's key server-side, meters the call, and returns the genuine response with a signed receipt.