# oxylabs/free-proxy-list architecture

> Architecture diagram of the GitHub repository oxylabs/free-proxy-list, generated by GitDiagram from its file tree, README and a sample of source files (last updated 2026-05-12). It is an AI-made overview: check details against the source.

- Interactive diagram: https://gitdiagram.com/oxylabs/free-proxy-list
- Repository: https://github.com/oxylabs/free-proxy-list

## Overview

1. **Repository role**
   - This repo is not an application codebase; it is a **product landing/documentation repository** for Oxylabs’ “Free Proxy List” offering.
   - Its primary function is to present the service, onboard users, and route them to external Oxylabs systems.

2. **Core content surface**
   - The repository is centered on a single **README.md** file.
   - That README acts as the main user-facing artifact, combining marketing copy, setup instructions, integration guidance, and support links.

3. **Asset layer**
   - The only local assets are under **images/**.
   - These are static promotional/illustration images embedded in the README to support the narrative and explain usage visually.

4. **External service boundary**
   - The repo does not host proxy infrastructure itself.
   - It points users to Oxylabs-managed external systems: the **dashboard**, **datacenter proxies page**, **documentation site**, and **support channels**.

5. **Primary user flow**
   - A user lands on the README, learns about the free proxy offering, then follows links to register on the Oxylabs dashboard.
   - From there they create proxy credentials, test access, and start using the service in their own tooling.

6. **Proxy access flow**
   - The architecture described by the README is a standard client-to-proxy-to-target pattern:
     - client tool or script authenticates to Oxylabs proxy endpoint,
     - Oxylabs proxy service forwards traffic,
     - target site receives the request as coming from one of the provided US IPs.
   - The README emphasizes that the proxy endpoint supports **HTTP, HTTPS, and SOCKS5**.

7. **Operational constraints**
   - The service is presented with explicit usage limits: **20 concurrent sessions**, **5GB/month traffic**, and **5 US IPs**.
   - These limits matter architecturally because they define the scale and behavior expected from the proxy account, not from the repo itself.

8. **Integration boundary**
   - The repo treats integration as client-side only: cURL, Python, JavaScript, PHP, Go, Java, and C# are listed as supported ecosystems.
   - The included Python example demonstrates how downstream applications inject proxy credentials into their own HTTP client configuration.

9. **Browser tooling**
   - A separate integration path is the **Oxy Proxy Manager Chrome extension**.
   - This is a browser-side control surface for switching IPs during browsing sessions, distinct from programmatic API usage.

10. **Documentation/dependency model**
    - The README references Oxylabs documentation and integration guides rather than containing implementation logic.
    - That means the repo’s “source of truth” for behavior is largely external; this repository is more of a distribution and discovery point.

11. **Support and community channel**
    - Support is routed outside the repo to **email, live chat in the dashboard, and Discord**.
    - These channels form the operational support boundary for users onboarding through the repo.

12. **What to show in an architecture diagram**
    - The diagram should mainly include:
      - this repo as a **documentation/marketing entry point**,
      - static **image assets**,
      - external **Oxylabs dashboard/docs/proxy endpoints**,
      - user-owned **client applications or browser extension**,
      - and the **target websites/services** accessed through the proxy layer.

Main entry points: [`README.md`](https://github.com/oxylabs/free-proxy-list/blob/main/README.md) (README), [`images`](https://github.com/oxylabs/free-proxy-list/tree/main/images) (Images)

## Diagram (Mermaid)

```mermaid
flowchart TD

subgraph group_repo_surface["Repo surface"]
  node_readme["README<br/>landing doc<br/>[README.md]"]
  node_images["Images<br/>static assets"]
  node_offer_overview(("Free Proxy<br/>product info"))
  node_setup_guide["Setup Guide<br/>onboarding"]
  node_integration_examples["Examples<br/>client snippets"]
  node_support_links(("Support Links<br/>help routing"))
end

subgraph group_oxylabs_cloud["Oxylabs services"]
  node_dashboard["Dashboard<br/>account portal"]
  node_docs_site["Docs Site<br/>documentation"]
  node_proxy_service[("Proxy Service<br/>managed proxy")]
  node_datacenter_page["Datacenter Proxies<br/>product page"]
  node_support_channels(("Support Channels<br/>ops support"))
  node_usage_limits(("Usage Limits<br/>quota rules"))
end

subgraph group_user_side["User side"]
  node_client_tools["Client Tools<br/>consumer apps"]
  node_browser_extension["Proxy Manager<br/>chrome extension"]
  node_target_sites(("Target Sites<br/>external destinations"))
  node_proxy_auth["Credentials<br/>auth config"]
end

node_readme -->|"describes"| node_offer_overview
node_readme -->|"guides"| node_setup_guide
node_readme -->|"shows"| node_integration_examples
node_readme -->|"routes to"| node_support_links
node_readme -->|"embeds"| node_images
node_offer_overview -->|"includes"| node_usage_limits
node_setup_guide -->|"registers at"| node_dashboard
node_setup_guide -->|"activates"| node_proxy_service
node_setup_guide -->|"references"| node_docs_site
node_integration_examples -->|"configures"| node_client_tools
node_integration_examples -->|"uses"| node_proxy_auth
node_client_tools -->|"connects to"| node_proxy_service
node_browser_extension -->|"switches through"| node_proxy_service
node_proxy_auth -->|"authenticates"| node_proxy_service
node_proxy_service -->|"forwards to"| node_target_sites
node_support_links -->|"points to"| node_support_channels
node_datacenter_page -.->|"contextualizes"| node_proxy_service

click node_readme "https://github.com/oxylabs/free-proxy-list/blob/main/README.md"
click node_images "https://github.com/oxylabs/free-proxy-list/tree/main/images"

classDef toneNeutral fill:#f8fafc,stroke:#334155,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#0f172a
classDef toneBlue fill:#dbeafe,stroke:#2563eb,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#172554
classDef toneAmber fill:#fef3c7,stroke:#d97706,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#78350f
classDef toneMint fill:#dcfce7,stroke:#16a34a,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#14532d
classDef toneRose fill:#ffe4e6,stroke:#e11d48,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#881337
classDef toneIndigo fill:#e0e7ff,stroke:#4f46e5,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#312e81
classDef toneTeal fill:#ccfbf1,stroke:#0f766e,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#134e4a
class node_readme,node_images,node_offer_overview,node_setup_guide,node_integration_examples,node_support_links toneBlue
class node_dashboard,node_docs_site,node_proxy_service,node_datacenter_page,node_support_channels,node_usage_limits toneAmber
class node_client_tools,node_browser_extension,node_target_sites,node_proxy_auth toneMint
```

## Components

### Repo surface

Local documentation and static assets in this repository.

- [README](https://github.com/oxylabs/free-proxy-list/blob/main/README.md): landing doc · Main user-facing artifact combining product overview, setup, usage, and support links. · `README.md`
- [Images](https://github.com/oxylabs/free-proxy-list/tree/main/images): static assets · Promotional and instructional images embedded in the README. · `images`
- **Free Proxy**: product info · Marketing and constraints for the free proxy offering: limits, geography, and supported protocols.
- **Setup Guide**: onboarding · Instructions for registering, creating credentials, and starting the proxy service.
- **Examples**: client snippets · Language-specific integration guidance and sample client configuration patterns.
- **Support Links**: help routing · Pointers to external email, dashboard chat, and community support.

### Oxylabs services

External Oxylabs-managed systems referenced by the README.

- **Dashboard**: account portal · Oxylabs account portal for registration, credential creation, and account management.
- **Docs Site**: documentation · External product and integration documentation referenced by the repository.
- **Proxy Service**: managed proxy · Oxylabs-managed endpoint that authenticates client requests and forwards traffic onward.
- **Datacenter Proxies**: product page · External Oxylabs page that contextualizes the proxy offering within broader proxy products.
- **Support Channels**: ops support · Email, live chat, and Discord used for onboarding and operational questions.
- **Usage Limits**: quota rules · Service limits described by the README: concurrent sessions, monthly traffic, and US IP count.

### User side

Client tools and browser-side integrations used by consumers of the free proxy list.

- **Client Tools**: consumer apps · User-owned scripts and applications that consume the proxy endpoint.
- **Proxy Manager**: chrome extension · Browser-side control surface for switching proxy IPs during browsing sessions.
- **Target Sites**: external destinations · Third-party websites and services reached through the proxy layer.
- **Credentials**: auth config · Proxy username, password, and endpoint settings injected into clients.

## Connections

- README → Free Proxy: describes · The README presents the offering, protocols, geography, and quotas.
- README → Setup Guide: guides · The README explains how to register and begin using the service.
- README → Examples: shows · The README includes client integration examples and supported ecosystems.
- README → Support Links: routes to · The README directs users to external support channels.
- README → Images: embeds · Local images support the narrative and usage guidance.
- Free Proxy → Usage Limits: includes · The product description calls out concurrency, bandwidth, and IP limits.
- Setup Guide → Dashboard: registers at · Users create an account and manage credentials in the dashboard.
- Setup Guide → Proxy Service: activates · After setup, users connect to the managed proxy endpoint.
- Setup Guide → Docs Site: references · Onboarding points users to external documentation and guides.
- Examples → Client Tools: configures · Client applications inject proxy settings into their HTTP stacks.
- Examples → Credentials: uses · Examples rely on credentials and endpoint details.
- Client Tools → Proxy Service: connects to · Applications send authenticated traffic to the Oxylabs proxy endpoint.
- Proxy Manager → Proxy Service: switches through · The browser extension controls proxy selection for browsing sessions.
- Credentials → Proxy Service: authenticates · Credentials identify and authorize the account against the proxy service.
- Proxy Service → Target Sites: forwards to · The proxy relays requests to external destinations on behalf of the client.
- Support Links → Support Channels: points to · Support is handled through email, chat, and Discord outside the repo.
- Datacenter Proxies → Proxy Service: contextualizes · The product page frames the free list within Oxylabs' proxy portfolio.