Web Scraping Glossary
Every scraping, data, and lead-gen term you'll run into — defined simply, with real examples. No jargon, no fluff.
API (Application Programming Interface)
An API is a structured way for one program to request data or actions from another. Here is what an API is, how platform APIs work, and how they compare to scraping.
Read definition →GlossaryAPI vs Scraping
APIs and web scraping both get you data, but they work very differently. Here is how an official API compares to scraping public pages, and when to use each.
Read definition →GlossaryCAPTCHA
A CAPTCHA is a challenge that checks whether a visitor is human, not a bot. Here's how CAPTCHAs work, why sites use them, and what triggers them.
Read definition →GlossaryCCPA
The CCPA is California's data privacy law giving residents rights over their personal information. Here's a plain-English overview and how it relates to scraping.
Read definition →GlossaryCSV (Comma-Separated Values)
A CSV is a plain-text spreadsheet format where each line is a row and commas separate the columns. Here is what CSV means and why scrapers export to it.
Read definition →GlossaryData Enrichment
Data enrichment means adding useful fields — like emails or phone numbers — to records you already have. Here is what it means and how scraping enriches a list.
Read definition →GlossaryData Export
Data export means getting your data out of a system into a portable file like a CSV. Here is what data export means and how scraping exports public data.
Read definition →GlossaryData Scraping
Data scraping is the automated extraction of data from a source into a structured format. Here is what it means, how it differs from web scraping, and what it is for.
Read definition →GlossaryDataset
A dataset is a structured collection of related data, usually organized in rows and columns. Here is what a dataset is and how scraping produces one.
Read definition →GlossaryEngagement Rate
Engagement rate measures how much an audience interacts relative to its size — a truer signal than follower count. Here's the formula and how scraping helps.
Read definition →GlossaryGDPR
The GDPR is the EU's data privacy law governing personal data of EU residents. Here's a plain-English overview and what it means for scraping and outreach.
Read definition →GlossaryHeadless Browser
A headless browser loads and runs web pages without a visible window, driven by code. Here's what headless browsers are and why scrapers use them.
Read definition →GlossaryJSON (JavaScript Object Notation)
JSON is a structured data format used by APIs and developers to exchange nested data. Here is what JSON means and how it compares to a CSV file.
Read definition →GlossaryLead Generation
Lead generation is the process of finding potential customers and their contact details. Here is what it means and how scraping public data builds leads.
Read definition →GlossaryLead List
A lead list is a structured list of prospects with their contact details, ready for outreach. Here is what a lead list is and how to build one by scraping.
Read definition →GlossaryPagination
Pagination is splitting a long list of results across multiple pages. Here is what pagination means and why scrapers have to handle it to collect every result.
Read definition →GlossaryPersonal Data
Personal data is any information that identifies a person — and it can be personal even when public. Here's what counts, and what it means for scraping and outreach.
Read definition →GlossaryProxy
A proxy is a server that routes your web requests through a different IP address. Here's what proxies are, why they exist, and how they relate to scraping.
Read definition →GlossaryPublic Data
Public data is anything anyone can view without logging in or paying. Here's what counts as public data, how it differs from private data, and what it means for scraping.
Read definition →GlossaryRate Limiting
Rate limiting caps how many requests you can make in a time window before a site slows or blocks you. Here's how it works and what it means for scraping.
Read definition →GlossaryResidential Proxy
A residential proxy routes requests through a real home IP address, so they look like an ordinary visitor. Here's how residential proxies work and why scrapers use them.
Read definition →Glossaryrobots.txt
robots.txt is a file that tells crawlers which parts of a site they should not visit. Here's what it does, what it doesn't do, and how it relates to scraping.
Read definition →GlossaryRotating Proxy
A rotating proxy changes IP address on every request or on a schedule, so a large scrape stays under per-IP limits. Here's how rotation works and why it matters.
Read definition →GlossaryScraper
A scraper is a tool or program that automatically collects data from websites into a structured file. Here is what a scraper is, the types, and how to use one.
Read definition →GlossaryUGC Creator
A UGC creator makes authentic-style content for brands to run as their own — hired for the footage, not the following. Here's what UGC creators are and how to find them.
Read definition →GlossaryUser Agent
A user agent is the text your browser sends to identify itself to a website. Here's what a user-agent string contains and how it relates to scraping.
Read definition →GlossaryWeb Crawler
A web crawler is a bot that systematically browses the web and discovers pages by following links. Here is what crawling means and how it differs from scraping.
Read definition →GlossaryWeb Scraping
Web scraping is the automated collection of public data from websites into a structured file like a CSV. Here is what it means, how it works, and what it is for.
Read definition →