PacketStreamProxy and web scraping reference
Glossary
Plain-language definitions of proxy, networking, and web scraping terms, with links to PacketStream guides and documentation.
B
Bandwidth Sharing
Bandwidth sharing lets a participant make unused internet capacity available for approved traffic in exchange for compensation.
Read definitionBrowser Fingerprinting
Browser fingerprinting identifies or groups clients by observable browser and device characteristics beyond their IP address.
Read definitionC
G
Geo-Blocking
Geo-blocking is the restriction of content or service access according to a visitor's inferred geographic location.
Read definitionGeo-Targeting
Geo-targeting is the selection of a proxy exit in a requested geographic area so traffic carries an IP associated with that area.
Read definitionH
Headless Browser
A headless browser is a web browser that runs without a visible user interface and is controlled through automation.
Read definitionHoneypot
A honeypot is a decoy system or resource designed to attract suspicious activity so defenders can detect and study it.
Read definitionHTTP Proxy
An HTTP proxy is an application-layer intermediary that receives HTTP requests and forwards them to destination servers.
Read definitionI
IP Ban
An IP ban is a rule that blocks or restricts requests based on the public source address they come from.
Read definitionIP Rotation
IP rotation is the practice of changing the public source address used for outgoing requests over time.
Read definitionISP Proxy
An ISP proxy uses an IP address registered to a consumer internet provider while the proxy endpoint runs on server infrastructure.
Read definitionP
Peer-to-Peer Proxy Network
A peer-to-peer proxy network routes client traffic through internet connections supplied by participating users.
Read definitionProxy Anonymity Levels
Proxy anonymity levels classify how much an HTTP proxy reveals about itself and the client's original network address.
Read definitionProxy Pool
A proxy pool is the set of exit IP addresses or proxy endpoints available for a service to assign to client connections.
Read definitionProxy Server
A proxy server is an intermediary that sends traffic between a client and a destination instead of connecting them directly.
Read definitionR
Rate Limiting
Rate limiting controls how many requests a client may make within a defined period or under a shared quota.
Read definitionReverse Proxy
A reverse proxy is a server that accepts requests for one or more backend servers and returns their responses to clients.
Read definitionrobots.txt
A robots.txt file publishes site-level instructions about which URL paths automated crawlers may request.
Read definitionRotating Proxy
A rotating proxy selects an exit IP for each new connection or configured interval, though a later selection may return the same address.
Read definitionS