User-Agent Builder
Generate and customize valid User-Agent strings for web scraping. Simulate different browsers, devices, and operating systems to avoid blocking.
Avoid the "Bot" Label
The easiest way for a website to block a web scraper is by checking its "User-Agent" HTTP header. If you don't set this header, or leave it as the default for your programming language (e.g. `python-requests`), you will often be blocked instantly. Using a valid, modern browser User-Agent is the first line of defense for any scraping project.
Mobile vs. Desktop
Websites often serve completely different HTML to mobile devices compared to desktops. If you find a site's desktop version is complicated or full of ads, try switching your User-Agent to an iPhone or Android device. You might get a lighter, cleaner version of the page that is much easier to scrape.
Why Randomize?
If you make thousands of requests with the exact same User-Agent, advanced anti-bot systems will fingerprint you. "This specific Chrome version on Windows has visited us 5,000 times in the last hour." Rotating your User-Agents (switching between Chrome, Firefox, different versions) helps blend your traffic in with the general crowd of internet users.
Frequently asked questions
Learn about HTTP headers and bot identification
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