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Glossary

Rotating proxy

A proxy endpoint that changes the exit address automatically, either on every request or on a timer.

A rotating proxy assigns a different exit address over time from a pool, without you managing individual addresses. You connect to one endpoint and the provider handles selection.

#Two rotation models

  • Per request. Every request may leave from a different address. Best for large numbers of independent fetches.
  • Sticky. The same address is held for a set period, so a multi-step flow stays coherent.

#The mistake people make

Rotating on every request is not automatically safer. If a workflow spans several requests — a search, then a result page, then a detail page — changing address mid-flow can look more suspicious than keeping one, because a real user’s address does not change between clicks. Match the rotation to the shape of the task.

#Where it is configured

Usually by port, by a flag in the username, or by an API call. There is no standard; the syntax is provider-specific and worth checking before you build against it.