How to Use Web Scraping API: A Comprehensive Guide
Web scraping is an essential tool for data collection, and with the right API, you can efficiently extract information from websites. This guide walks you through setting up and using Web Scraping API through the Dakota dashboard.
Getting Started with Core Web Scraping API
To begin using Web Scraping API, navigate to the Dakota dashboard and select “Scraping APIs and Pricing” from the left side menu. You’ll have options between advanced and core plans.
The core Web Scraping API setup is straightforward. Upon accessing the scraper tab, you’ll find your authentication credentials: username, password, and a basic authentication token. These credentials can be regenerated at any time by clicking the arrow icon.
Setting Up Scraper Parameters
Below the authentication section, you’ll find several important parameters:
- URL Field: Enter your target website address
- Location: Select the geolocation from which you want to access the website
- HTTP Method: Choose between GET (default) and POST (when you need to send a payload)
- HTTP Response Codes: Define which response codes you consider successful
Once you’ve configured these settings, click “Send Request” to retrieve the raw HTML response. You can copy this response to your clipboard or export it as an HTML file.
Advanced Web Scraping API Features
The advanced Web Scraping API offers more sophisticated functionality. After entering your authentication details, you can select specialized scraping templates that apply unblocking strategies and parsing techniques optimized for specific targets.
Advanced options include:
- Bulk Feature: Target multiple sites simultaneously
- JavaScript Rendering: Enable to scrape dynamic pages without a headless browser
- Location Settings: Choose proxy locations from the Dakota IP pool
- Language/Local Parameter: Determine the search page interface language
- Device Type and Browser: Specify which device and browser to emulate
- Session ID: Use the same proxy connection for up to 10 minutes
- Custom Headers and Cookies: Set specific request parameters
- Custom Status Codes: Specify which non-standard HTTP status codes should be accepted
Saving and Scheduling Scrapers
To reuse your scraper configuration, click the three dots button and select “Save Scraper.” Saved scrapers can be accessed from the saved section.
For recurring data collection needs, you can schedule scrapers by accessing a saved template, clicking the three dots menu, and selecting “Schedule Scraper.” Set your desired frequency and data delivery method, then click “Save.” The scheduling can be disabled using the toggle switch.
API Integration and Usage Tracking
For developers looking to integrate Web Scraping API into their applications, endpoints for real-time requests, asynchronous requests, and bulk requests are available in the documentation.
To monitor your usage, visit the Usage Statistics tab to view metrics such as:
- Number of requests sent
- Average response time
- Traffic used
- JavaScript renders count
This dashboard provides valuable insights into your scraping activities over your chosen time period.