Scraping, also known as web scraping, is the process of automatically extracting large amounts of data from websites and other digital sources. It is a technique used by businesses, researchers, and marketers to collect data from the internet, such as pricing information, product descriptions, and customer reviews.
Scraping is done by using specialized software, called web scrapers, which can automatically navigate through a website’s pages and extract the desired information. The scraped data can then be used to create databases, perform analytics, and gain insights into customer behavior and market trends.
One of the key benefits of scraping is that it can save businesses time and resources by automating the process of data collection. It allows businesses to collect large amounts of data from different sources, such as e-commerce platforms and social media websites, and use it to make data-driven decisions. Additionally, scraping enables marketers to monitor the competition and gain insights into market trends and customer behavior.
In recent years, scraping has become more prevalent, with the rise of big data and the increasing importance of data-driven decision making. Additionally, with the rise of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and the internet of things, scraping has become an essential tool for businesses to collect and analyze large amount of data from different sources.