Välimuistiproxyja

Välimuistiproxy, or caching proxy, is a server that acts as an intermediary for requests from clients seeking resources from other servers. Its primary function is to cache frequently accessed content, such as web pages, images, and other files, to reduce latency and bandwidth consumption. When a client requests a resource, the proxy first checks if it has a copy of that resource in its cache. If a valid copy exists, the proxy serves it directly to the client, bypassing the need to contact the origin server. This significantly speeds up response times for users and lessens the load on the origin server.

If the requested resource is not found in the cache or the cached copy is outdated, the proxy forwards the request to the origin server. Upon receiving the response from the origin server, the caching proxy stores a copy of the resource in its cache before delivering it to the client. This ensures that subsequent requests for the same resource can be served from the cache. Caching proxies are widely used in various network environments, including corporate networks, internet service providers (ISPs), and content delivery networks (CDNs), to improve performance and efficiency. They can also provide security benefits by filtering malicious content and hiding the IP addresses of internal clients.