What are proxies for web scraping?

What are proxies?

(https://help.listly.io/docs/listly-blog/blog/what-are-proxies-for-web-scraping#what-are-proxies)

A proxy is an intermediary server between users and online resources, which routes the Internet traffic to ensure secure data sharing. When you use a proxy server, your internet traffic goes through it before reaching its destination, such as websites and other internet resources. Proxy servers can be used for various purposes, including anonymity, security, and content filtering. For instance, you may use a proxy to hide your IP address while watching movies since some over-the-top (OTT) streaming services use geo-blocking to manage regional licensing agreements. In addition, there are many types of proxies based on their wide range of applications – residential proxies, HTTP proxies, and SOCKS proxies, and understanding the details about the types of proxy servers will help you make a better choice for your web scraping journey.

Web Scraping Proxy

Why use proxies for web scraping?

(https://help.listly.io/docs/listly-blog/blog/what-are-proxies-for-web-scraping#why-use-proxies-for-web-scraping)

Proxies are a crucial tool in web scraping since they can be used to avoid defensive measures from websites that might block or restrict access when scraping data. Please read on if you want to know more about proxies for web scraping.

1

Avoiding IP Bans

Many websites develop their own mechanisms to detect and block IP addresses that make too many requests in a short period. By rotating proxies, you can distribute the load across multiple IP addresses and reduce the risk of getting blocked.

2

Bypassing Geographical Restrictions

Some content is restricted based on geographic locations. Proxies can help you access such content by routing your requests through servers located in different regions.

3

Improving Anonymity

Proxies can help mask your identity by hiding your real IP address. This is important in maintaining privacy and avoiding tracking by your destination website.

4

Testing and Monitoring

If you’re testing how a website responds to different regions or networks, proxies can simulate these different conditions and help you monitor performance and availability from various locations.

5

Ensuring Reliable Data Collection

Proxies can ensure more reliable and uninterrupted data collection even if one proxy gets blocked or fails; others can continue to give you access to your destination website.

What are my options for proxies in Listly?

(https://help.listly.io/docs/listly-blog/blog/what-are-proxies-for-web-scraping#what-are-my-options-for-proxies-in-listly)

Listly offers a proxy service for paid plan users as an add-on, allowing them to select the proxy types and locations and the number of internet protocol (IP) addresses that suit their web scraping needs. With Listly's automated rotating proxy solution, you can avoid getting blocked while web scraping with more IP addresses. Unlike other proxy services that charge different prices depending on the performance, speed, and types of proxies, Listly currently offers a wide range of options, such as Datacenter, ISP, Residential, and Mobile proxies, and lets users select proxy locations and the number of IP addresses so that they can maximize proxies and experience uninterrupted scraping. If you’d like to learn more about which proxy is the best for your project, check out What kind of proxy should I use? (https://help.listly.io/~/revisions/u8wSpR3LG2pMkiWGpMt5/support/faq/proxy/what-kind-of-proxy-should-i-use) Plus, check out the Pricing (https://www.listly.io/pricing) page for more details about the proxy options and pricing!

Proxy Options in Listly