2024 Python Web Scraping Tutorial: From Beginner to Expert

I chose to learn Python targeting web scraping because the thought process for web scraping is fixed, and the programming model is relatively simple. Generally, accumulating some experience in detail processing can lead to success.

1. Correct Understanding of Python Web Scraping

Python web scraping? Why is it called web scraping? I was also puzzled when I first heard this name.

Literally, web scraping is like a bug crawling around, so it is called web scraping?

(Complete tutorial can be retrieved at the end of the article)

Simply put, web scraping is like a detection machine. Its basic operation is to simulate human behavior to wander around various websites, click buttons, check data, and then bring back the information seen.

It is indeed quite similar to the bugs crawling around mentioned above, so the name Python web scraping is quite vivid.

2. Understanding the Essence of Web Scraping

The essence of web scraping is to simulate a browser opening a webpage and obtaining the part of the data we want from the webpage.

Process of a browser opening a webpage: When you enter an address in the browser, it goes through the DNS server to find the server host, sends a request to the server, and the server sends back the results to the user’s browser, including html, js, css, and other file contents, which the browser parses to present the final results to the user.

So the results seen by the user in the browser are composed of HTML code, and our web scraping is aimed at obtaining this content by analyzing and filtering the HTML code to extract the resources we want.

To learn Python web scraping, you need to solve the following four problems:

1. Familiarity with Python Programming

Familiarity with Python programming, Python is a computer programming language designed for writing automation scripts (shell). With constant updates and the addition of new features, it is increasingly used for the development of independent, large projects.

So Python programming is to utilize the Python language for computer programming.

2. Understanding HTML

Understanding HTML, HTML is a language used to describe webpages.

HTML stands for Hyper Text Markup Language.

HTML is not a programming language but a markup language (markup language).

A markup language is a set of markup tags.

HTML uses markup tags to describe webpages.

3. Understanding the Basic Principles of Web Crawlers

The basic principle of web crawlers is an important part of the search engine crawling system. The main purpose of a crawler is to download webpages from the internet to create a local mirror backup of the content. This blog provides a simple overview of crawlers and crawling systems.

A common framework of a web crawler is shown in the diagram:

4. Learning to Use Python Crawler Libraries

Python crawler libraries, requests is a simple and easy-to-use HTTP library implemented in Python. Requests is much more concise than urllib, and since it is a third-party library, it needs to be installed via cmd. Find the path of Scripts in your Python installation path:

3. Correctly Assess Whether You Are Suitable for Python Web Scraping

The most important and simplest step to start with Python web scraping is to be interested in it! Interested!

As a seasoned Python web scraping enthusiast, I believe that regardless of what you learn, you should start with interest, persist, and only then can you truly master it.

When you first start with web scraping, you don’t even need to learn the more difficult topics like classes, multithreading, and modules in Python. Instead, everything should be based on your abilities, according to your learning goals, whether for work, hobbies, or even if you want to grow into a Python web scraping expert in the future.

It is recommended not to randomly experiment online when starting out, as there are many Python web scraping tutorials on the internet, but very few are aimed at absolute beginners. Find truly useful quality learning materials, along with guidance from professional teachers, which can not only help you learn Python web scraping but also learn other Python-related content, greatly increasing your job prospects.

The key points for beginners in Python web scraping are as follows: you must repeatedly digest the syntax logic, such as lists, dictionaries, strings, if statements, for loops, etc., the core concepts must be mastered.

Learning Python is beneficial for both employment and side jobs, but to learn Python, one must have a study plan. Finally, I will share a complete set of Python learning materials to help those who want to learn Python!

Including: Python activation code + installation package, Python web development, Python web scraping, Python data analysis, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automated testing to systematically learn Python from scratch!

Python Learning Gift Pack

Summary of Python Learning Paths

A summary of technical points in all directions of Python, forming a collection of knowledge points in various fields. Its usefulness lies in that you can find corresponding learning resources according to the knowledge points above to ensure a more comprehensive learning experience. (Complete tutorial can be retrieved at the end of the article)

Essential Python Development Tools

Warm reminder: Due to space limitations, a packaged folder is available, the retrieval method is at the end of the article.

Python Practical Cases

Theoretical knowledge is useless; you must learn to practice hands-on to apply what you’ve learned in real situations. At this point, you can work on practical cases to learn.

Collection of Python Books and Videos

Watching beginner learning books and videos is the quickest and most effective way to learn. Following the teacher’s thinking in the videos, from basic to advanced, it is quite easy to get started.

Python Interview Practice Questions

Python Side Job Paths

Due to space limitations, I won’t display everything one by one.

If you need this Python programming material or books, you can:

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