Semalt: The best JavaScript Libraries And Frameworks For Screen Scraping
What's the difference between a framework and a library? A library is a usable piece of code that consists of different objects and functions, depending on the programming language. On the other hand, a framework may or may not consist of different libraries. It provides different hooks and callbacks, so we can continue to build screen scrapers and web applications. Both libraries and frameworks are useful, and it is good to experiment with them in a number of ways. The best JavaScript libraries and frameworks for screen scraping or data extraction are discussed below.
1. Node.js
Node.js is the cross-platform, open-source JavaScript library that helps execute different server-side codes. It enables us to use JavaScript for the server-side scripting and often runs server-side scripts to produce dynamic web content. With the passage of time, Node.js has become one of the fundamental elements of the JavaScript paradigms. It helps build different screen scrapers, web applications, browser games and real-time communication programs.
2. jQuery
It is one of the most famous and prolific JavaScript libraries. John Resig released jQuery in 2006, and it is used websites all over the world. jQuery is primarily used for Document Object Model (DOM) manipulation. A DOM is the tree-like structure that represents all elements on the web pages.
3. Underscore
In 2009, Jeremy Ashkenas developed and launched Underscore, which is the utility library for screen scraping. Underscore consists of hundreds of functions, which help manipulate objects and arrays in a better way. One of the most distinctive features of this JavaScript library is that it helps build basic screen scraper or data extractors. However, Underscore is not good if you want to develop advanced and more powerful scrapers or web applications.
Lodash, on the other hand, is least important than Underscore. This JavaScript library is primarily used to extract links from the search engines. Both Underscore and Lodash help build comprehensive FP applications.
4. Ember.js:
Ember.js is the open-source JavaScript framework that has various interactive features. Yehuda Katz released it in 2011, and Ember.js was previously known as SproutCore 2.0. It has features similar to that of Ruby on Rails, is highly flexible, and prefers convention over the configuration. With Ember.js, you can easily build high-performance screen scrapers.
5. Aurelia
It is the front-end and open-source JavaScript framework. Rob Eisenberg created Aurelia in 2016, and it is suitable for mobile, web and desktop applications. You can also use Aurelia to develop data extractors at a large-scale. It possesses various ECMAScript features and allows us to write the codes using those characteristics.
6. Vue.js:
It is another open-source JavaScript framework that has been around for quite some time. Vue.js was created by Evan You and has been refined with time. One of its distinctive properties is its progressiveness. You can use Vue.js to build web applications and scrapers. Its other prominent features are templates, components, two-way data binding, focus on reactivity, and transitions.
If you are new to web development or programming, the above-mentioned JavaScript frameworks and libraries are good to go with.
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