In the world of computer networking, a proxy server plays a centrifugal role. It is an intermediary or a middleman that processes all requests from clients who are looking for different types of resources from servers. This particular role of an intermediary is crucial in the process of web scraping, that deals with multiple requests from a single IP address directed to a server.
Without the required attention, such multiple requests can lead to a consequence of the server blocking or restricting the IP address to stop future scraping. Here comes in the role of web scraping proxies that allow the scraping to continue by altering the IP address, dodging all kinds of blocks and guaranteeing the anonymity of the user’s device.
A proxy server – What is its use?
Besides being a gateway between the internet and the user’s device, it is also like a location indicator and they are often interpreted as this: 162.76.65.119. Once you leverage a proxy server, your internet traffic will flow through the mentioned server and reach the intended address. This is why they don’t reveal your actual IP address, letting you browse anonymously and gives an impression that you’re browsing from a totally different location. Utilizing a proxy server is particularly useful when you have to watch content that geo-restricted.
Proxy pools – How are they useful?
While discussing about proxy servers, we automatically come to how proxy pools can be utilized. Your proxy is something that is related to your IP address and your IP address is something that is linked to your location, proxy pools let you alter your location among several proxies so that there is no detection of the actual location.
You must be wondering how a proxy server is located in a different country. When you have a US proxy server, it means it is only a server that has been given an US-based IP address and it is located in the US.
Reasons behind the importance of proxy location
When we say proxy location, we mean the geographical placement of the proxy server and the location of the proxy server is critical for web scraping. Let’s check out the reasons:
- Ignore geo-limitations: There are geo-restrictions on some websites which means only people living in a particular location can access that website. Others living outside that location won’t be able to access the website. However, if you own the proxies of those countries, you can easily access the local content of that location.
- Getting access to local data: There are several websites that show varied details based on the location of the IP address. When you choose between other proxy servers, you can effortlessly gain access to data or content that is seen by the local users of that particular country.
- Enhance safety: Proxy servers are the best options for people who wish to use the internet and at the same time, not reveal their actual location. This keeps up with maintaining anonymity and the location is never detectable.
Choosing web scraping proxy – How to know which is the best for you
Just as for anything else, while choosing the web scraping proxy provider, you have to keep in mind your objectives and needs. Let’s take a quick look at the following aspects that you need to keep in mind before choosing a web scraping proxy provider.
- Check your budget: Various proxy servers come in different pricing plans and range from free trial versions to enterprise-level subscriptions. You have to choose according to your budget.
- Know whether you need an in-built analytics panel: There are a few proxy service providers that provide dashboards to supervise your usage, rate of success, and other useful metrics.
- Determine your data requirements: What are the number of coexisting requests that you have to run? Bigger projects need robust solutions that are capable of handling increased request volumes.
- Understand the automation level of your tool: What kind of requirement do you have about the time that you require spending on manual and maintenance tasks? Watch out for special features that can reduce your workload and simplify the process of proxy management.
- Enquire whether the provider has API: APIs give you an opportunity of integrating the tool in your stack, which is important for web scraping at scale.
Is proxy scraping legalized?
According to the courts, scraping public data is considered legal. However, the data can’t be copyright protected and the data should be available on public domain in order to be considered legal. The scraped data should be utilized as per the rules and regulations of the country.
Final Thoughts
To conclude, proxies play an integral role in web scraping. They help in dodging rate limiting, not revealing your IP address, and accessing content that is geo-restricted. Make an informed decision before choosing your web scraping proxy server.