Glossary

An anonymous proxy is a server that acts as an intermediary between a user's device and the internet, masking the user's IP address to enhance privacy. It allows users to browse the web without revealing their identity, helping to bypass restrictions and maintain anonymity while accessing online content.

Alternative data refers to non-traditional data sources used to gain insights and inform decision-making. This can include social media activity, satellite imagery, web scraping, and transaction data, among others. Businesses leverage alternative data to enhance analytics, improve forecasting, and gain a competitive edge in various industries, particularly finance and marketing.

Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines designed to think and learn like humans. It encompasses various technologies, including machine learning, natural language processing, and robotics, enabling systems to perform tasks such as problem-solving, decision-making, and language understanding, often improving over time through experience.

AI agents are software programs that use artificial intelligence to perform tasks autonomously or assist users. They can analyze data, make decisions, and interact with users through natural language processing. Common examples include virtual assistants, chatbots, and recommendation systems, which enhance user experience and streamline processes across various applications.

An antidetect browser is a specialized web browser that masks or randomizes identifying attributes (such as user‑agent strings, canvas/WebGL fingerprints, and IP addresses) so each session appears as a distinct, generic user.

An API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of rules and specifications that allows one application to access the features or data of another application. This enables different software systems to communicate and interact with each other

Brand safety refers to the measures and practices that ensure a brand's advertisements do not appear alongside inappropriate, harmful, or controversial content. It aims to protect a brand's reputation by maintaining a safe environment for its messaging, thereby fostering consumer trust and ensuring effective marketing outcomes.

A botnet is a network of compromised computers or devices, controlled remotely by a cybercriminal. These infected machines, often called 'bots' or 'zombies,' can be used to perform malicious activities, such as launching distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, sending spam, or stealing data, without the owners' knowledge.

Beautiful Soup is a Python library used for parsing HTML and XML documents. It creates parse trees from page source code, making it easier to navigate, search, and modify the parse tree. Ideal for web scraping, it helps developers extract data from websites efficiently and handle poorly formatted markup.

Bandwidth sharing refers to the practice of distributing available network bandwidth among multiple users or devices. This allows for efficient use of internet resources, enabling simultaneous connections and data transfer. While it enhances accessibility, excessive sharing can lead to reduced speeds and performance for individual users, especially during peak usage times.

Bandwidth refers to the maximum rate of data transfer across a network or internet connection, measured in bits per second (bps). It determines how much information can be transmitted simultaneously, affecting the speed and quality of online activities such as streaming, gaming, and downloading. Higher bandwidth allows for faster and more efficient data communication.

A backconnect proxy is a type of proxy server that automatically rotates IP addresses for each request, allowing users to maintain anonymity and avoid detection while web scraping or accessing restricted content. This technology enhances security and reduces the risk of IP bans by distributing traffic across multiple IPs.

Browser fingerprinting is the process web services use to collect browser data from their users to generate unique digital fingerprints for tracking purposes.

Bot traffic is any traffic to a website or app that is generated by automated software programs (known as bots) rather than humans. Bots can simulate human behavior by performing tasks like browsing web pages, clicking links, filling out forms, or even making purchases.

A bot (short for "robot") is a software program that performs automated tasks over a network. Bots follow instructions to carry out actions, often mimicking human behavior, but at a much faster pace.

Bot detection is the method by which a website identifies bot traffic. There are a number of processes that websites can use to distinguish bot traffic from traffic generated by real people.

A CSV, or Comma-Separated Values file, is a plain text format used to store tabular data. Each line represents a data record, with fields separated by commas. CSV files are commonly used for data exchange between applications, making it easy to import and export data in spreadsheets and databases.

CSS selectors are patterns used to select and style HTML elements in a web page. They allow developers to apply specific styles based on element types, classes, IDs, attributes, and more. By targeting elements effectively, CSS selectors enable precise control over the appearance and layout of web content.

A cron job is a scheduled task in Unix-based systems that automates the execution of scripts or commands at specified intervals. It allows users to run tasks like backups, updates, or maintenance scripts without manual intervention, enhancing efficiency and ensuring regular system operations.

In computing, a client refers to a device or software application that requests services or resources from a server. Clients can be computers, smartphones, or applications that interact with servers over a network, enabling users to access data, applications, or services hosted remotely.

CGNAT, or Carrier-Grade Network Address Translation, is a technology used by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to manage IP address allocation. It allows multiple users to share a single public IP address by translating private IP addresses within a local network. This helps conserve IPv4 addresses and facilitates efficient network management.

cURL (short for Client URL) is a command-line tool you can use to transfer data to or from a server using various network protocols. It’s a versatile tool that allows you to make different types of requests, like downloading files, sending data, and interacting with APIs.

CAPTCHAs are tests that determine whether traffic to a website originates from a human or a bot. They work by providing challenges that are difficult for computers to solve but easy for humans.

Dynamic content refers to web or digital content that changes based on user behavior, preferences, or real-time data. It personalizes the user experience by delivering tailored information, such as product recommendations or targeted messages, enhancing engagement and relevance.

Data collection is the systematic process of gathering, measuring, and analyzing information from various sources to gain insights, inform decisions, and support research. It involves methods such as surveys, interviews, observations, and digital tracking, ensuring the data is accurate, relevant, and reliable for effective analysis and interpretation.

A device fingerprint is a unique identifier generated by collecting specific attributes of a device, such as its operating system, browser type, installed plugins, and screen resolution. This data helps websites and applications recognize and track devices for security, fraud prevention, and personalized user experiences without relying on cookies.

Data parsing is the method used to extract data from unstructured sources and convert it into a structured format. This makes it easier to analyze, send, and integrate.

A dataset is a collection of data that's organized and stored in a structured format that makes the data easy to analyze or use.

A datacenter proxy is a type of proxy server that is hosted in a data center, rather than being tied to a residential internet connection. Datacenter proxies are known for their high speeds and scalability, since they often run on powerful servers with significant bandwidth.

A forward proxy is a proxy server that sits between your device (or client - such as your web browser or a mobile application) and the internet. Instead of the client making requests directly to the web resource you want to access, your client makes the request to the proxy server, which then sends the request on (or "forwards" it) to the web resource on your behalf.

Geolocation is the process of determining the real-world geographic location of an object, such as a computer, mobile device, or vehicle. This is often done by analyzing data like IP addresses, GPS coordinates, and WiFi signals.

HTTPS, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, is an extension of HTTP that uses encryption to secure data exchanged between a user's browser and a web server. It ensures privacy, integrity, and authentication, protecting sensitive information from eavesdropping and tampering, making it essential for secure online transactions and communications.

HTTP, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol, is the foundational protocol used for transmitting data over the web. It enables communication between web browsers and servers, allowing users to access and interact with websites.

A headless browser is a web browser that operates without a visual user interface. It runs in the background, allowing automated interaction with web pages, including rendering HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the code that gives structure and content to web pages. It uses tags to define elements like headings, paragraphs, images, and links, which tell web browsers how to display the information.

IP rotation is a technique used to change the IP address of a device or server at regular intervals. This practice enhances online privacy, prevents IP bans, and improves web scraping efficiency by distributing requests across multiple IPs, making it harder for websites to detect and block automated activities.

An IDE, or Integrated Development Environment, is a software application that provides comprehensive tools for software development. It typically includes a code editor, debugger, compiler, and build automation tools, all in one interface, enabling developers to write, test, and debug code efficiently.

ISP proxies are a type of proxy server that combines the speed and reliability of datacenter proxies with the authority and anonymity of residential proxies. They are hosted in data centers but use IP addresses provided by Internet Service Providers (ISPs), making them appear like regular residential users.

An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a unique numerical identifier assigned to every device connected to a network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. IP addresses serve as a way to locate and communicate with devices over a network, much like a street address identifies a physical location.

JSON, or JavaScript Object Notation, is a lightweight data interchange format that is easy for humans to read and write, and easy for machines to parse and generate. It uses a text format that is completely language-independent, making it ideal for data exchange between web applications and servers. JSON structures data in key-value pairs.

JavaScript is a programming language that adds interactivity to websites. It allows developers to create dynamic content, handle user input, and make web pages more engaging.

Locators in web scraping are specific identifiers used to locate and extract data from web pages. They can include HTML elements like tags, classes, IDs, or attributes. By utilizing locators, scrapers can efficiently navigate the Document Object Model (DOM) to retrieve targeted information from websites for analysis or storage.

An LLM, or Large Language Model, is an advanced artificial intelligence system designed to understand and generate human-like text. LLMs are trained on vast datasets to perform various language tasks, including translation, summarization, and conversation.

Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence that enables systems to learn from data, identify patterns, and make decisions with minimal human intervention. By using algorithms and statistical models, machine learning improves its performance over time, allowing applications in various fields such as finance, healthcare, and marketing to automate processes and enhance decision-making.

Mobile proxies are a type of proxy server that routes your internet traffic through a mobile device with a real mobile IP address. This makes it appear as if you are browsing the internet using a smartphone or tablet connected to a cellular network, rather than your actual device and location.

Network Access Translation (NAT) is a networking process that modifies IP address information in packet headers while in transit across a router or firewall. It enables multiple devices on a local network to share a single public IP address, enhancing security and conserving IP address space by hiding internal IP addresses from external networks.

Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment that lets you run JavaScript code on the server side.

A proxy list is a compilation of proxy servers, which act as intermediaries between a user's device and the internet. These servers mask the user's IP address, enhance privacy, and enable access to restricted content. Proxy lists are commonly used for web scraping, bypassing geo-blocks, and improving online anonymity.

A protocol in networking is a set of rules and conventions that govern how data is transmitted and received over a network. It ensures reliable communication between devices by defining formats, timing, and error handling, enabling interoperability and efficient data exchange across diverse systems and platforms.

Price monitoring is the process of tracking and analyzing the prices of products or services over time. It helps businesses understand market trends, competitor pricing, and consumer behavior, enabling them to make informed pricing decisions, optimize profit margins, and enhance competitive positioning in the marketplace.

A port in networking is a virtual point of connection that allows data to flow between devices over a network. It is identified by a number, ranging from 0 to 65535, and is used by protocols to differentiate between multiple services or applications running on a single device, facilitating communication and data exchange.

Puppeteer is a Node.js library developed by Google that provides a high-level API for controlling headless Chrome or Chromium browsers. It allows developers to automate web tasks such as testing, scraping, and rendering web pages, enabling efficient interaction with web applications programmatically. Puppeteer is widely used for web automation and performance monitoring.

Python is a popular programming language known for its clear syntax and readability. It's used for a wide range of tasks, from building websites and analyzing data to automating tasks and creating artificial intelligence.

A proxy server is an intermediary server that sits between your device (or application) and the internet, forwarding your requests and responses while hiding your IP address from the online resources you access. This helps you to access restricted content and bypass some bot detection measures when web scraping.

Robots.txt is a text file placed on a website's server that instructs web crawlers and search engine bots on which pages to crawl or avoid. It helps manage site indexing, control bandwidth usage, and protect sensitive information from being accessed or displayed in search results.

Rate limits in web scraping refer to restrictions set by websites on the number of requests a user can make within a specific timeframe. These limits help prevent server overload, protect against abuse, and ensure fair access for all users. Adhering to rate limits is crucial for ethical scraping and maintaining access to web resources.

Rate limiting is a technique used in network management to control the amount of incoming or outgoing traffic to or from a server. It restricts the number of requests a user can make in a given timeframe, preventing abuse, ensuring fair usage, and maintaining optimal performance and security of web applications and APIs.

A reverse proxy is a type of proxy server that sits in front of one or more web servers, intercepting all client requests before they reach the origin server. This allows reverse proxies to perform various functions like load balancing, security filtering, and caching to improve the performance, security, and reliability of the web server(s).

Residential proxies are a type of proxy server that routes your internet traffic through a residential IP address. This means your online activity appears to originate from a real home or individual user, rather than a data center or business.

Sticky sessions, also known as session persistence, refer to a web server configuration that ensures a user's requests are consistently directed to the same server during a session. This approach improves user experience by maintaining session data, such as login information and preferences..

Structured data refers to organized information that is easily searchable and interpretable by machines, typically formatted in a predefined manner, such as databases or spreadsheets. It often uses standardized schemas like JSON-LD or Microdata to enhance data clarity and improve search engine optimization (SEO) by enabling better indexing and richer search results.

A SOCKS proxy is a server that uses the SOCKS (Socket Secure) protocol to route your data. The SOCKS protocol is a set of instructions that dictate how a client (for example, your web browser) can route traffic through a proxy server, while keeping your browsing data private and secure. SOCKS5 is the latest, best-performing, and most feature-rich version of this protocol.

Selenium is an open-source framework primarily used for automating web browsers. It provides tools and libraries that allow you to control a browser programmatically, enabling tasks like web testing, web scraping, and automating repetitive web actions.

TTFB, or Time to First Byte, is a web performance metric that measures the time taken for a user's browser to receive the first byte of data from a server after a request is made. It reflects server responsiveness and can impact user experience and SEO rankings. Lower TTFB indicates better performance.

Transparent proxies are intermediary servers that intercept and redirect network traffic without modifying requests or responses. They operate without requiring client configuration, making them invisible to users. Commonly used for content filtering, caching, and monitoring, transparent proxies enhance network performance and security while maintaining user anonymity.

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) is a core communication protocol that ensures reliable and ordered delivery of data between applications over a network. It establishes a connection between the sender and receiver, verifies data integrity, and retransmits any lost or corrupted data.

UDP (User Datagram Protocol) is a communication protocol that sends data packets over a network with minimal overhead and error checking. It prioritizes speed and efficiency over guaranteed delivery, making it suitable for applications where occasional data loss is acceptable.

WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is an open-source technology that enables real-time audio, video, and data sharing directly between web browsers without the need for plugins. It facilitates peer-to-peer connections, enhancing communication applications like video conferencing, online gaming, and file sharing, while ensuring low latency and high-quality interactions.

Web data refers to information collected from websites, including text, images, videos, and user interactions. It encompasses structured data (like databases) and unstructured data (like social media posts). This data is crucial for analytics, marketing strategies, and improving user experiences by providing insights into online behavior and trends.

A Web Application Firewall (WAF) is a security solution designed to monitor, filter, and protect web applications from malicious traffic and attacks, such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting. By analyzing HTTP requests and responses, a WAF helps safeguard sensitive data and ensures the integrity and availability of web applications.

A web crawler, also known as a spider or bot, is an automated program that systematically browses the internet to index content from websites. It collects data for search engines, helping them understand and rank web pages based on relevance and quality, ultimately improving search results for users.

wget is a free command-line utility that you can use to download files from the internet. It’s a robust tool that’s able to handle unstable network connections and supports various protocols, including HTTP, HTTPS, and FTP.

Web scraping is the process of collecting data from the web and aggregating it into one place. Although this can be a manual process (i.e. copy and pasting from websites yourself), “web scraping” generally refers to automating that process.

A web scraper is a tool that automatically extracts data from websites. It finds the information you want from web pages and puts it into a format you can use, such as a spreadsheet.

XPath, or XML Path Language, is a query language used to select nodes from an XML document. It provides a way to navigate through elements and attributes in XML, allowing users to extract specific data efficiently. XPath is widely used in web scraping, XML data manipulation, and in conjunction with technologies like XSLT and XQuery.