Residential proxies are a type of proxy that uses a real, physical device as the proxy server, rather than a virtual one. This means that they are associated with a specific IP address, which belongs to a real person or business, rather than a data center. Because of this, residential proxies are often seen as more reliable and less likely to be detected as proxies by websites and servers.

There are several reasons why someone might want to use a residential proxy. For example, they may be looking to conceal their own IP address for privacy or security reasons, or they may be trying to access content that is restricted based on location. Residential proxies can also be useful for online market research, as they can help to gather data from different geographical locations without revealing the true location of the researcher.

One of the key benefits of residential proxies is that they are much less likely to be detected as proxies by websites and servers. This is because they are associated with a real, physical device and IP address, rather than a virtual one. This makes them ideal for use in activities such as scraping websites, as they are less likely to be blocked or detected as a bot.

However, it's important to note that residential proxies are generally more expensive than other types of proxies, such as datacenter proxies. This is because they require the use of real devices and IP addresses, which can be more difficult to obtain and maintain.

Overall, residential proxies can be a useful tool for a variety of purposes, from privacy and security to market research and data scraping. While they may be more expensive than other types of proxies, they offer the added benefit of being less likely to be detected and blocked, making them a reliable choice for many users.