What is a Request Header?

Request headers are key-value pairs sent by the client as part of an HTTP request, providing metadata about the request, the client, and the desired response format. In proxy contexts, specific headers like Via, X-Forwarded-For, and Proxy-Authorization play critical roles.

Standard and Proxy-Specific Headers

HTTP request headers are sent after the request line (method, URL, version) and before the request body. Standard headers include Host (target server), User-Agent (client identifier), Accept (expected response format), and Cookie (session data). Proxy-specific headers include Proxy-Authorization (credentials), X-Forwarded-For (original client IP chain), and Via (proxy chain information). Elite proxies remove or do not add proxy-identifying headers. The target server reads these headers to determine how to process the request.

When your request passes through gate.hexproxies.com:8080, the Hex Proxies gateway strips any proxy-identifying headers like Via or X-Forwarded-For before the request exits to the target. The target sees only standard browser headers, with no trace of the proxy layer in the header chain.

Header Consistency Prevents Detection

Request header management is a critical skill for effective proxy usage. Inconsistent, missing, or suspicious headers are a major cause of detection and blocking. Headers must be realistic, internally consistent, and match the user agent being spoofed. Hex Proxies handles proxy header management transparently, ensuring clean headers that do not leak proxy usage information.