# Tor: What is a Tor exit relay?

An exit relay is the last relay in a Tor circuit when you visit an ordinary internet site.

2026-08-22
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Switchboard Tech Services


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## Short answer

An exit relay is the last relay in a Tor circuit when you visit an ordinary internet site. It connects to the destination, so that site sees the exit relay's IP address. The exit operator does not automatically learn your original IP address from the circuit, but can observe traffic on the exit side if the destination connection lacks its own encryption.

## Sources

[Tor Project: Relay types](https://community.torproject.org/relay/types-of-relays/), [Tor Project: Secure connections](https://tb-manual.torproject.org/en-US//secure-connections/).

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Language: en-us

Content type: guide

Author: Switchboard Tech Services

Published: 2026-08-23T03:22:13+00:00

Description: A practical answer to What is a Tor exit relay?