# Tor: What is Tor, and how does it work?

Tor is a network that routes a connection through several volunteer relays so a destination website sees a Tor exit relay rather than your home IP address.

2026-08-23
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Switchboard Tech Services


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## Short answer

Tor is a network that routes a connection through several volunteer relays so a destination website sees a Tor exit relay rather than your home IP address. The relays do not each learn both who you are and where you are going. Tor improves network privacy, but a website can still identify you if you sign in or tell it personal details.

## Sources

[Tor Project: About Tor Browser](https://support.torproject.org/tor-browser/getting-started/about-tor-browser/).

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Canonical URL: https://switchboardtechservices.com/guides/tor-what-is-tor-and-how-does-it-work/

Language: en-us

Content type: guide

Author: Switchboard Tech Services

Published: 2026-08-24T01:03:36+00:00

Description: A practical answer to What is Tor, and how does it work?