This Blog will have three parts, in this first part we will explain what Web Crawlers are, how they work and why they are important. In the second part, which will be available soon, we will explain the different tools for Web Crawling. And in the last part, we will explain how to block them. Having said that, let's get started.
Web Crawlers are essential automated programs on the Internet. Their main function is to explore the web, collect web data and enable this information to be found by search engines such as Google. They act as digital scanners, following links and collecting data efficiently. Most importantly, they are the foundation that makes the web accessible, organised and easy to navigate, because without them, the vast amount of information online would be inaccessible.
To understand how web crawlers work, it is important to look at two key aspects: how web crawlers crawl websites and collect information, and the process of content indexing by search engines.
Web Crawlers begin their journey on a particular website through an initial URL. From there, they follow internal and external links to navigate the site's structure. This process is similar to a map that expands as they explore new pages. When they reach a page, they analyse its content for relevant information such as text, images, links and other resources.
These crawlers are programmed to collect data efficiently and quickly, allowing them to cover a large amount of information in a short period of time. They are also able to identify and follow specific instructions, such as the guidelines in a website's robots.txt file, which specifies which parts of the site can and cannot be crawled.
In this process, the collected data is organised and stored in huge databases. Each web page is broken down into keywords, metadata and other elements to facilitate quick and accurate access.
When a user performs a search on Google, for example, the engine queries its index (a kind of catalogue) to find the web pages that best match the query. This is done by using sophisticated algorithms to assess the relevance and quality of the pages.
Web Crawlers are the first to touch your content on the web. As they crawl your site, they collect information about your pages and content. This information is used to index your site in search engines. In other words, search engines know about the existence of your website thanks to Web Crawlers.
Online visibility is essential for attracting visitors. If Web Crawlers cannot find and understand your content, your site is unlikely to appear in search results. Therefore, the influence of Web Crawlers on visibility is undeniable: the better they understand your website, the more likely you are to stand out in search results.
Website optimisation, or SEO, is closely related to Web Crawlers. To improve online visibility, it is necessary to optimise the website so that it is considered relevant and valuable by search engines.
Web Crawlers play an important role in this process. When they crawl the site, they evaluate various aspects such as the structure of the site, the quality of the content, the keywords used and the speed at which pages load. They use this information to determine how relevant the site is to users' searches.
That's the end of the first part of this blog. We hope you enjoyed reading it and found it informative.
Stay tuned for the second part, which will provide more details and interesting tools that will certainly enrich your understanding of Web Crawlers. Don't miss it.
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