Utilizing Web Scraping for Big Data: An Exploratory Analysis

Abstract

Web scraping, the process of extracting information from websites, has become a vital component of data acquisition in the era of big data. As the volume and diversity of online information continue to grow exponentially, traditional data collection methods prove inadequate for comprehensive and up-to-date data retrieval. This journal paper presents a comprehensive exploration of web scraping techniques within the context of big data applications. It delves into the technical intricacies of handling vast amounts of data while addressing issues related to data quality, legality, and ethical considerations. The synergy between big data technologies and web scraping is highlighted, showcasing how distributed computing frameworks and parallel processing can be harnessed to enhance scraping efficiency and accommodate the scale of data available on the web. Legal and ethical considerations are central to web scraping, especially in the context of big data.