Enter the URL of a webpage containing an HTML table, then click 'Scrape' to extract the data. Once processed, you can download the extracted table as a CSV or Excel file.
Web scraping is the process of extracting data from websites. This data can be collected and saved for further analysis or use in other applications.
Easy Web Scraper allows you to enter the URL of a webpage containing an HTML table. It extracts the table data and provides options to download it as a CSV or Excel file.
Yes, Easy Web Scraper is completely free to use. No hidden charges or subscriptions required.
Web scraping exists in a legal gray area and depends on several factors, including the website's terms of
service, the type of data being scraped, and the jurisdiction. Here are the key considerations:
1. Public vs. Private Data
Scraping publicly available data (e.g., information that does not require login credentials) is
generally safer but may still be restricted by a website's terms of service.
Scraping private or copyrighted data (e.g., content behind a login, personal user data) without
permission is likely illegal.
2. Website Terms of Service (ToS)
Many websites explicitly forbid scraping in their ToS. Violating these terms can lead to legal
consequences, though in some countries, ToS violations alone may not be criminal offenses.
3. Laws & Regulations by Country
United States: The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) has been used to prosecute unauthorized scraping,
but court rulings have varied. A key case (HiQ Labs v. LinkedIn) ruled that scraping public data does
not violate the CFAA.
European Union: The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) restricts scraping of personal data
without user consent.
United Kingdom: The Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR apply, making scraping of personal data risky
without proper compliance.
Other countries: Many have laws similar to the above, particularly regarding personal data
protection.
4. Fair Use & Copyright
If the scraped content is copyrighted (e.g., articles, images, databases), using it without permission
may lead to copyright infringement claims.
5. Ethical & Technical Risks
Aggressive scraping can overload a website's servers, leading to potential legal action or IP bans.
Some websites use anti-bot measures to block scrapers, and bypassing these protections (e.g., CAPTCHA
solvers, rotating proxies) may be legally problematic.
Best Practices for Legal Scraping