Databay field notes
Proxy guides, experiments & operator notes
Engineering guides and first-party measurements for people operating proxy-backed data systems.
- 01Guides26
- 02Tutorials15
- 03Comparisons7
- 04Research5
Newest update Aug 13, 2026 · methodology-open research
All articles
53 entries
HTTP vs SOCKS5 Proxies: DNS, TLS, UDP & Client Tests
Choose HTTP or SOCKS5 from the client behavior you need, not an OSI-layer slogan. Compare handshakes, DNS location, TLS, authentication...
15 min readRead
How Residential Proxies Work: Architecture and Routing
A network-layer explanation of ISP-origin proxy routing, gateway selection, session continuity, consent, and the signals a destination...
6 min readRead
What Is a Proxy Server? Trace Every Connection Step
A proxy server accepts one connection and creates or relays another. Trace HTTP, CONNECT, SOCKS5, DNS, TLS, and reverse-proxy paths in a...
12 min readRead
Proxy vs VPN: A Practical Routing, Encryption & Trust Test
Choose between a proxy and VPN by tracing which apps, DNS requests, and IP routes each one changes. Includes a route map and a...
10 min readRead
Residential vs Datacenter Proxies: Evidence-Based Comparison
Compare ISP-origin and hosting-network proxy routes by measurable origin, location controls, session behavior, latency, sourcing, and cost.
4 min readRead
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