What is a smart proxy and how does it work?

A smart proxy is a type of intelligent server intermediary that operates between users and the resources they seek, such as web services. It works by enhancing the traditional proxy functionality with added layers of intelligence and features. Typically, it manages traffic based on dynamic rules and policies, often addressing concerns like load balancing, content filtering, access control, and caching for increased performance. Smart proxies can also perform deep content inspection, enabling decisions to be made not just on network headers but also on the data within messages. They might use machine learning algorithms or other sophisticated mechanisms to learn from traffic patterns for adaptive security measures or more efficient routing, making them particularly useful in both improving user experience and offering robust security protections.