Step 1: Your Device Sends a Request
When you type a URL and press Enter, your browser creates an HTTP request. This request normally goes directly to the website's server. With a proxy, the request is redirected to the proxy server instead.
Step 2: The Proxy Receives and Processes
The proxy server receives your request, reads the destination URL, and creates a new request to the target website using its own IP address. The target server has no way to know who originally made the request.
Step 3: The Target Responds to the Proxy
The website sends its response (HTML, images, scripts) back to the proxy server. The proxy then forwards this content to your browser. You see the website as if you visited it directly.
What the Target Website Sees
The target website sees the proxy's IP address, location, and connection details. It cannot see your real IP, your ISP, or your actual location. However, it may detect that traffic is coming from a proxy or datacenter IP.
What Your ISP Sees
Your internet provider can see that you're connecting to a proxy server. They can log this connection but cannot see which specific websites you visit through the proxy (unless the proxy uses HTTP instead of HTTPS).