Python Web Scraper:
In this article, we will be creating a simple web scraper program which we can use to gather information from websites. Follow along with this tutorial to learn how you can create this useful program!
In this article, we will be creating a simple web scraper program which will allow you to gather any information you want from a website, without having to read through the entire article or webpage. This is a very useful and versatile program that can be used for various projects.
This is an intermediate-level project for those who are new to Python. Before starting this project, you should already have experience printing, for loops, and using functions, as these concepts will be used throughout the project. Basic knowledge of HTML is also useful, but not necessary.
This program uses Python’s BeautifulSoup library to extract data from the website specified in the code. The program searches the webpage’s HTML for specified tags or classes and selects that information to display in the program. The concepts learned through creating this program are essential for learning Python, making this the perfect project to practise and apply these skills.
Here is the pseudocode for this project:
Import the BeautifulSoup library and requests
Create a page object and set the webpage to gather information from
Create a variable called ‘soup’ and make it gather the HTML information from the page object
Print (“Top books and number of copies sold”)
For link in soup.find_all():
Print a numbered list with the gathered information
This project can be broken down into 3 main steps:
The first thing we’ll need to do when creating this game is import the BeautifulSoup libraries and the requests module. Because these are not a built-in part of the Python programming language, we will need to import them into our project before we can begin using them. We will do this using this code:
Note: You may need to use the terminal to install the BeautifulSoup library, which can be done using the ‘pip install’ command
Now that we have imported the library, we need to create an object that will be used to gather and store information for the program. In this case, we will be calling this object ‘page’. We will start by defining what website the object is going to draw information from, and we will also set up the HTML parser, which will be used to parse the HTML file for the web page. The code for this section is as follows:
For the final step in this project, we will have to output all of the information that we have gathered from the website. We will do this by creating a print statement, and using a for-loop to iterate through all of the instances of a specific tag. The program will then print this information, producing a list of the desired information.
As you can see, this section of code begins by printing a title for the list, as well as creating a variable, i, which will be used to number the list. Then, the code iterates through, looking for any elements with the tag
You can find which tag to use by going to inspect element and selecting the object you would like to use.
Finally, the program will print the number of the list, increment i by 1, print the information, and add the words “copies sold” to the end of the list element.
Note: The print statements we have used have an added line that says end = “” at the end. This means that rather than adding text and beginning a new line, the following print statement will be added to the same line as the previous.
Now the project is complete! We hope you’ve had fun creating this simple and versatile web scraper program, and hopefully, you’ve learned more about programming with Python! Make sure to test your code now and see how it works. If you’re stuck or have any issues with your code, try reviewing it again either in your text editor or by looking at the code included in the article as a reference.
With the advent of the computing era and demand for software developers, kids should be able to have a grip on basic knowledge regarding coding and if they ever decide to make it their career in the future. In this age of modern technology, kids have quickly become tech-savvy with access to computers, games, and laptops from a very young age, and developing coding skills won't be that difficult if they started young.
Beginning coding and learning the programming principles can be done by children as early as seven years old. Coding for kids has become increasingly popular in recent years as technology gets more incorporated into our daily lives. Learning to code as a child can set the path for a lifetime of opportunities.
Coding is the process of creating or programming a computer through an imaginative procedure that directs the machine to perform a variety of tasks. It is accomplished by using codes or instructions that are required to function properly as essential to a computer. Codes are simply a collection of digital inputs, actions implemented on those inputs, outputs, and their resulting reactions.
Coding abilities are incredibly important in today's digital era for employees in almost every industry. In addition, several studies have shown that youngsters who learn to code from the commencement of their education do better during their lives. It is predicted by the bureau of labour statistics that we’ll see an increase in information and technology professions at the rate of 13 percent from 2020-2030.
Each child is a one-of-a-kind individual. Children can implement a variety of things at varied rates and in various ways. Experts believe that youngsters should learn to code at a young stage of development. As stated by MIT, children should begin studying coding languages like Scratch Jr while they are between the ages of 5 and 7. People frequently do this by playing various rational games that simulate the dexterity of coding.
Experts generally believe that youngsters should be taught to code as early as possible. Every child develops at their speed and in distinct ways. Even yet, youngsters as young as 5 or 6 can begin learning basic exercises. Introduce several logical games that replicate the talent of coding to accomplish this. You can go to more challenging exercises after a year or so.
Several studies have found that children who begin coding in elementary school earn higher academic results throughout their education.
In the digital era, coding is measured as a vital skill. As a result, understanding and using technology is a requirement in this day and age. It pertains to a lot of advantages when it comes to cultivating the skills of coding. Children should learn to code for the following reasons:
To begin with, coding, doing too much too soon can lead to frustration. If your child is going to benefit from coding, you want them to like it. Hence, it's better to take things gently at first, to take your time, and to set minor goals along the road.
Here's how to familiarize coding to your children in a way that they will like and thrive at:
Discussing something new with others is a terrific method to help it keep in your mind. Encourage your children to discuss the topic with their peers. For instance, they may be able to connect it to the most recent video game they're playing; your child may be able to explain how the game would not exist without coding.
Better yet, introduce your kid to scratch, a website, and a community or programmer kids to code and share with each other their outstanding projects. This will encourage them to interact with others and take constructive criticism with no fuss at all.
They can inquire how coding aids in powering robots with their science teacher at school. It's possible that no one in your child's everyday circle is interested in talking about coding. You'll need to broaden your horizons in this case. Visit a technology museum or enroll your child in a coding-related after-school program.
Early elementary school is the optimum time for children to begin coding. Strengthening cognitive skills through coding helps to plant seeds for eventual complex knowledge. We have confidence in the fact that the optimal age for children to begin learning to code is around the age of 6-7.
Suppose children are taught to think rationally and develop a problem-solving mindset early in life. In that case, they will comprehend complicated coding ideas later in life. Even if students decide to abandon coding later in life, having a fundamental understanding of technology principles will be helpful in the future.