If the service you want to scrape provides an API, using that API has the benefit of giving you clean data and shielding you from a redesign of the website or a change in language or layout.

Using an API often also means that you need to register with the website and also often means that there are limits as to how often you may use the service.


In reply to Re: web scrape using API and the regular web scrape by Corion
in thread web scrape using API and the regular web scrape by trample666

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