Understanding difference between beacon and proxy

ESPHome
1

I recently stumbled upon ESP32 via YouTube searches and I’m trying to understand the difference between a proxy and a beacon. My HAOS device already has onboard Bluetooth so I’ll likely not need an adapter though the range might be questionable, haven’t tested it yet.
I saw that the ESP32 can be set to ping other Bluetooth devices like smartphones which act like a sensor which I’m guessing is the beacon. Can a beacon also be a proxy which I’m understanding can extend BT range within the home?

Also bonus question: I have a few BT remote for TVs and TV boxes in my home. Is it possible to replicate BT signals to be controlled via HA? It looks fairly complicated requiring “sniffing” which I’m not very familiar with either.

Thanks in advance for any help!

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The proxy feature in ESP Home lets beacons and other Bluetooth devices talk to home assistant over your standard home networking. It automatically works, and as long as you have a proxy connected to Home Assistant and added an ESPHome device, then wherever that device is in your home, it will be able to extend Bluetooth coverage to that area.

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