A proxy is a server that acts as an intermediary between a client and a server, forwarding requests from clients to servers and vice versa. Here are some examples of different types of proxies used in web scraping:
- Data Center Proxies: These are proxy servers that are owned and operated by data centers. They are used to hide the user's real IP address and provide a different IP address from the data center's pool of IP addresses. They can be sourced from regional data centers or from AWS, Google, and other similar cloud providers. Data center proxies are typically faster than residential proxies but are easily detectable by websites and services that block proxy usage.
- Residential Proxies: These are proxy servers that use residential IP addresses provided by internet service providers (ISPs). They are considered better than data center proxies because they provide a real IP address from a physical location and are less likely to be detected as a proxy. However, they tend to be slower and more expensive than data center proxies.
- 4G Proxies: These are proxy servers that use mobile 4G network IP addresses. They are similar to residential proxies, providing a real IP address from a physical location, but they also offer the added benefit of mobility. However, the speed and reliability of 4G proxies can vary depending on the proxy location and network conditions.
If you ever have to use proxies, make sure you get them from a reliable provider like ScrapingBee as some providers in the market source these proxies using illegal and shady tactics.