proxy gateway

proxy gateway

(networking)A computer and associated software which willpass a request for a URL from a World-Wide Web browsersuch as Firefox to an outside web server and return theresults. This provides clients that are sealed off from theInternet a trusted agent that can access the Internet ontheir behalf. Once the client is properly configured, itsuser should not be aware of the proxy gateway.

A proxy gateway often runs on a firewall machine. Its mainpurpose is to act as a barrier to the threat of crackers.It may also be used to hide the IP addresses of thecomputers inside the firewall from the Internet if they donot use official registered network numbers.

Web browsers can be configured to use a different proxy or noproxy for each URL access method (or "scheme") - FTP,Gopher, WAIS, news, and HTTP.

Mosaic and proxy gateways.

Compare proxy server.