Middlebox
= Middlebox
A <middlebox> performs a function on a communication path beyond ordinary <Internet Protocol> forwarding, such as address translation, traffic filtering or proxying. The function can be embedded in a device rather than implemented in a separate physical box. Its state and assumptions can affect failure recovery and <protocol> evolution.<Middleboxes: Taxonomy and Issues (RFC 3234)>[§1.1 and §4: definition and architectural issues]{ref}