Data Scraping

Data scraping (or web scraping) is the automated extraction of data from websites by parsing their HTML or intercepting network traffic. A scraper loads a web page, locates data elements in the HTML structure, and extracts information into a structured format.

Scraping has significant drawbacks: scrapers break whenever the website's HTML changes, are often blocked by anti-bot measures, may violate the website's terms of service, and require ongoing maintenance to stay functional.

Data APIs are the preferred alternative. An API provides the same underlying data in a structured, documented format that does not break when the website redesigns its frontend. For production applications, APIs offer reliability, legal clarity, and developer support that scrapers cannot match.