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To understand exactly what a residential proxy is, you first need to grasp what a residential IP is. An IP address is a unique identifier assigned to an individual device when it connects to a network. This allows devices or endpoints to communicate with each other directly and without crossing wires.
A residential IP refers to the IP assigned to a specific device, such as a computer, mobile phone, tablet, etc. This IP is associated with information about the device, its owner ISP, and its approximate physical location.
Internet Services Providers (ISPs) own residential IP addresses and store them in public databases. They assign an IP to each device that connects to their network. Residential IPs are associated with a single device and, by extension, its user.
As residential IP addresses are associated with individuals, they are treated as real people by online services. In contrast, database proxies are usually linked with spam and may be blocked on the spot.