Glossary · VPN & tunneling

VPN tunnel

Also calledwhat is a vpn tunnelencrypted tunnel

Definition

A VPN tunnel is the encrypted connection between your device and a VPN server that carries all your device's network traffic.

Explanation

In depth

The word "tunnel" is metaphorical — the traffic still travels the same public internet, but wrapped in encryption so intermediate networks cannot inspect it. VPN tunnels use specific protocols: WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, or older options like L2TP and PPTP. Each protocol packages the traffic differently and has different tradeoffs on speed, security, and firewall traversal. Modern default is WireGuard for speed and simplicity. The tunnel encrypts everything from your device to the VPN server; from server to destination, ordinary internet routing applies (HTTPS destinations get their own TLS on top). If the tunnel drops mid-session, a VPN kill switch blocks all traffic until the tunnel reconnects — preventing accidental leaks.

See alsoVPN tunnel deep-dive

Related terms

VPNA VPN is a service that routes every network request from your device through an encrypted tunnel to a remote server.WireGuardWireGuard is a modern VPN tunnel protocol designed for simplicity, speed, and small code footprint — the 2020s default for most VPN services.OpenVPNOpenVPN is the veteran open-source VPN tunnel protocol — flexible, well-audited, and configurable over TCP or UDP.VPN kill switchA VPN kill switch blocks all device network traffic the moment the VPN tunnel drops — preventing accidental leaks.

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