How does Tor work?
Tor sounds mysterious, but the core idea is simple and elegant. It is all about splitting knowledge so no single party can see the whole picture.
Layers, like an onion
Before your request leaves your device, Tor wraps it in several layers of encryption - one per relay on the path. Each relay peels exactly one layer, learning only where to send the packet next. That layered design is where the "onion" name comes from.
You may also find the technical onion-routing explainer helpful here.
Three relays, one guarantee
Your traffic passes through an entry, a middle, and an exit relay. The entry sees you but not your destination; the exit sees the destination but not you; the middle links neither end. No single hop knows both who you are and where you go.
Frequently asked questions
Why three relays?
Three is the minimum where a middle relay guarantees no single hop links your identity to your destination.
Does Tor make me fully anonymous?
It is strong at the network level, but your own behaviour can still expose you.