What is an intercepting proxy?

An intercepting proxy is a tool that sits between your browser (client) and a web server, allowing you to capture, inspect, and modify the traffic going back and forth.

A well-known example is the proxy feature in Burp Suite.

How It Works

Normally:

Browser → Server → Browser

With an intercepting proxy:

Browser → Intercepting Proxy → Server → Intercepting Proxy → Browser

The proxy acts like a middleman, giving you control over the communication.

What You Can Do With It

• View requests (headers, cookies, parameters, etc.)
• Modify requests before they reach the server
  (e.g., change a username, price, or token)
• Inspect responses from the server
• Test security vulnerabilities in web applications