--- title: Advantages of using a Proxy during your automated or manual tests description: Learn when you should consider using a http/ssl proxy during your web or mobile app automation tests. source_url: html: https://testingbot.com/software-testing-questions/what-is-a-proxy-for-testing md: https://testingbot.com/software-testing-questions/what-is-a-proxy-for-testing.md --- # What is a Proxy? Why should I use it during testing? - [![Share on Facebook](https://static.addtoany.com/buttons/facebook.svg) ](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Ftestingbot.com%2Fsoftware-testing-questions%2Fwhat-is-a-proxy-for-testing.md&linkname= "Share on Facebook") - [![Share on Twitter](https://static.addtoany.com/buttons/twitter.svg) ](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Ftestingbot.com%2Fsoftware-testing-questions%2Fwhat-is-a-proxy-for-testing.md&linkname= "Share on Twitter") - [![Share on LinkedIn](https://static.addtoany.com/buttons/linkedin.svg) ](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Ftestingbot.com%2Fsoftware-testing-questions%2Fwhat-is-a-proxy-for-testing.md&linkname= "Share on LinkedIn") - [![Share on HackerNews](https://static.addtoany.com/buttons/y18.svg) ](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/hacker_news?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Ftestingbot.com%2Fsoftware-testing-questions%2Fwhat-is-a-proxy-for-testing.md&linkname= "Share on HackerNews") A HTTP proxy, often shortened as a proxy, is an intermediate server which acts as a gateway between a HTTP client (e.g., a web browser or device) and a destination server (e.g., a website or API service). The primary purpose of a HTTP proxy is to forward HTTP requests and responses between the client and the destination server, serving as an intermediary. There are multiple reasons why you would use a proxy during your tests, including: - You need to use a corporate proxy to reach the outside internet. - You want to test your website from a different location, which is called geolocation testing. ## Geolocation Testing You might want to test your website from a different location for a number of reasons, including: - **Adaptive Content** Some websites or applications provide content tailored to specific regions. Geolocation testing ensures that users see the most relevant and localized content based on their geographical location. - **Localization Testing** You want to test that your website is localized correctly for different regions or languages. - **Geo-Blocking** Some websites or services might block traffic from a specific country. You can test to make sure this is working correctly, by using a proxy from a country that is blocked. TestingBot offers [geolocation testing](https://testingbot.com/support/web-automate/selenium/test-options#geo) for all automated tests. 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