Välittäjäpalvelimet

Välittäjäpalvelimet, often translated as "proxy servers" in English, are intermediary servers that act as a gateway between a client and other servers on the internet. When a client requests a resource from a server, the request is first sent to the välittäjäpalvelin. The välittäjäpalvelin then forwards the request to the destination server on behalf of the client. Similarly, the response from the destination server is sent back to the välittäjäpalvelin, which then forwards it to the original client.

The primary functions of välittäjäpalvelimet include enhancing security, improving performance, and managing network traffic. They can filter malicious content, mask client IP addresses to provide anonymity, and cache frequently accessed resources to reduce bandwidth usage and speed up access times. In corporate environments, välittäjäpalvelimet are often used to control internet access, block certain websites, and monitor employee internet activity.

There are different types of välittäjäpalvelimet, such as forward proxies, which serve clients within a network, and reverse proxies, which protect servers by sitting in front of them. They can operate at various levels of the network stack, from application-layer proxies that understand specific protocols like HTTP to lower-level network proxies. The use of välittäjäpalvelimet can offer significant benefits in terms of security, efficiency, and control over internet access for both individuals and organizations.