In this course, you'll start by learning the fundamentals of web scraping, including what it is and how it works. You'll be introduced to Scrapy, one of the most powerful and widely-used Python frameworks for web scraping, and get hands-on experience setting it up on various operating systems. As you progress, you'll dive into core Scrapy components like Spiders, Selectors, and the Scrapy Shell, which are essential for navigating and extracting data from websites.
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What you'll learn
Identify and describe the key components of Scrapy and web scraping concepts.
Explain how CSS selectors, XPath, and API calls work in extracting web data.
Implement web scraping techniques to extract data from static and dynamic websites using Scrapy.
Distinguish between different web scraping methods and choose the most suitable for various scenarios.
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October 2024
9 assignments
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There are 22 modules in this course
In this module, we will introduce you to the fundamental concept of web scraping, how it works, and how the Scrapy framework can help extract data from websites. You’ll gain a clear understanding of the basic terminology and workflow involved in this process.
What's included
3 videos1 reading
In this module, we will guide you through the installation of Scrapy on both Windows and Ubuntu systems. You'll learn how to create your first Scrapy project and familiarize yourself with its structure through a detailed project walkthrough.
What's included
4 videos
In this module, we will walk you through the process of creating a Scrapy spider, sending requests, and receiving responses. We will also cover how to use CSS selectors to extract data, giving you the skills to build and refine your spider.
What's included
7 videos1 assignment
In this module, we will explore the use of CSS selectors to locate web elements efficiently. You’ll learn how to use basic and attribute-based selectors to extract data from web pages, comparing their strengths with XPath.
What's included
3 videos
In this module, we will dive into the power of XPath for web scraping. You'll learn how to write XPath expressions, use attribute selectors, and leverage the text() function to extract data efficiently from web elements.
What's included
3 videos
In this module, we will introduce the Scrapy Shell, a powerful interactive tool for testing and debugging web scraping tasks. You'll practice fetching responses and configuring the shell to fit different scraping scenarios.
What's included
3 videos1 assignment
In this module, we will focus on using Scrapy items to organize the data you scrape. You'll learn how to define fields, process input and output data, and work with ItemLoaders to simplify the handling of complex data.
What's included
5 videos
In this module, we will explore how to export data extracted using Scrapy into various formats like JSON, CSV, and XML. You’ll also learn techniques to overwrite or append data, making the export process more flexible.
What's included
3 videos
In this module, we will cover how to use item pipelines to process and store scraped data efficiently. You’ll learn to save data locally or in MongoDB, ensuring that your scraping workflows are scalable and well-organized.
What's included
5 videos1 assignment
In this module, we will demonstrate how to handle pagination by extracting links from web pages and sending requests to retrieve additional data. You’ll also learn how to automate the process with the start_requests() method.
What's included
3 videos
In this module, we will show you how to follow links in Scrapy spiders, select data using regular expressions, and set up custom callback functions to handle more complex scraping tasks, such as navigating between product pages.
What's included
4 videos
In this module, we will teach you how to scrape data from HTML tables. You will learn the techniques to select table rows, cells, and handle complex table structures to ensure accurate data extraction.
What's included
3 videos1 assignment
In this module, we will focus on scraping data from websites that require login credentials. You'll learn how to inspect forms, log in using Scrapy's FormRequest, and work with CSRF protection to bypass security restrictions.
What's included
5 videos
In this module, we will explore scraping JavaScript-rendered websites using Scrapy and Playwright. You’ll learn how to install and configure Playwright, render dynamic web pages, and extract data from these types of websites.
What's included
5 videos
In this module, we will explore Playwright’s advanced features in combination with Scrapy. You will learn how to handle dynamic websites, including those with infinite scrolling and loading screens, while collecting data.
What's included
8 videos1 assignment
In this module, we will teach you how to identify and interact with API endpoints, enabling you to bypass scraping web pages and directly request structured data from the API for more efficient data collection.
What's included
3 videos
In this module, we will cover the settings that affect your entire Scrapy project, including handling robots.txt files, configuring middleware, and optimizing your scraping speed using the Autothrottle extension.
What's included
4 videos
In this module, we will explain how to use user agents and proxies to avoid being blocked while scraping. You will learn how to rotate these configurations dynamically to maintain efficient data collection.
What's included
4 videos1 assignment
In this module, we will share practical tips and tricks to enhance your scraping experience. You will learn about customizing spiders, running standalone spiders, and advanced methods for extracting and manipulating data.
What's included
5 videos
In this project module, we will guide you through scraping sports data from ESPN.com. You will build a Scrapy spider, inspect the website, and extract key information such as teams, rankings, and match details.
What's included
5 videos1 assignment
In this project module, we will focus on scraping product rankings from Amazon. You’ll learn how to locate selectors, structure your data, and build a complete spider to automate the extraction process.
What's included
4 videos
In this project module, we will demonstrate how to extend your scraper by building a graphical user interface (GUI). You will learn how to set up the interface and trigger spiders directly from the application.
What's included
3 videos2 assignments
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can preview the first video and view the syllabus before you enroll. You must purchase the course to access content not included in the preview.
If you decide to enroll in the course before the session start date, you will have access to all of the lecture videos and readings for the course. You’ll be able to submit assignments once the session starts.
Once you enroll and your session begins, you will have access to all videos and other resources, including reading items and the course discussion forum. You’ll be able to view and submit practice assessments, and complete required graded assignments to earn a grade and a Course Certificate.