> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.711proxy.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.711proxy.com/faq/residential-proxies/what-is-a-residential-proxy.md).

# What is a residential proxy?

A residential proxy provides the feature to select a desired location (e.g., country, state, city) and enables its users to gather web data as if they were physically located in that region. Residential proxies act as a buffer to safeguard your online activities while simultaneously hiding your real IP address. In essence, residential proxies provide our users with a stand-in IP address that we lease out, resulting in a higher level of anonymity and flexibility when it comes to web data collection.