Browse Definitions :
Definition

site scraper

Ivy Wigmore
By

A site scraper is a type of software used to copy content from a website.

Site scrapers work similarly to web crawlers, which essentially perform the same function for the purposes of indexing websites. Web crawlers cover the whole Web, however, unlike site scrapers, which target user-specified websites.

Depending on the particular scraper program and user specifications, the software can download any data, including entire websites, and follow links to other content for further downloads. The data obtained may be saved as text, CSV, HTML or XML files; some scraper tools also enable export to a compatible database.

Content scraping has numerous legitimate purposes but is also often used for data theft and plagiarism. Websites featuring content scraped from other sites are called scraper sites.

Examples of site scrapers include Web Content Extractor, Wget, ScrapeGoat and Scraper, a Chrome extension.  

Asheesh Laroia explains web scraping in this video:

This was last updated in February 2014

Continue Reading About site scraper

SearchNetworking
SearchSecurity
  • man in the browser (MitB)

    Man in the browser (MitB) is a security attack where the perpetrator installs a Trojan horse on the victim's computer that is ...

  • Patch Tuesday

    Patch Tuesday is the unofficial name of Microsoft's monthly scheduled release of security fixes for the Windows operating system ...

  • parameter tampering

    Parameter tampering is a type of web-based cyber attack in which certain parameters in a URL are changed without a user's ...

SearchCIO
  • e-business (electronic business)

    E-business (electronic business) is the conduct of business processes on the internet.

  • business resilience

    Business resilience is the ability an organization has to quickly adapt to disruptions while maintaining continuous business ...

  • chief procurement officer (CPO)

    The chief procurement officer, or CPO, leads an organization's procurement department and oversees the acquisitions of goods and ...

SearchHRSoftware
SearchCustomerExperience
  • first call resolution (FCR)

    First call resolution (FCR) is when customer service agents properly address a customer's needs the first time they call.

  • customer intelligence (CI)

    Customer intelligence (CI) is the process of collecting and analyzing detailed customer data from internal and external sources ...

  • clickstream data (clickstream analytics)

    Clickstream data and clickstream analytics are the processes involved in collecting, analyzing and reporting aggregate data about...

Close