What are squid proxies used for?

Squid proxies are used primarily as caching and forwarding HTTP web proxies. They help improve web browsing performance by caching frequently-accessed content, reducing bandwidth usage and server load. Squid can also be configured to filter traffic, control access to certain types of information, anonymize requests by hiding client IP addresses, and provide secure SSL support for encrypted connections. Additionally, Squid proxies act as intermediaries that can handle a high volume of requests, which makes them valuable in large network environments where optimizing the flow of data to end-users is crucial. They are often employed in both corporate and public networks to expedite and manage internet usage efficiently.