Web scraping is an automated technique used to extract large amounts of data from websites. It involves retrieving unstructured data from web pages and converting it into a structured format for analysis or storage. This process is typically performed by bots or scripts that navigate through web pages, collecting information such as text, images, and other content. Web scraping is widely used for various purposes, including market research, competitive analysis, and data aggregation. However, it’s essential to consider the legal implications, as not all websites permit scraping, and compliance with their terms is crucial for ethical practices.