What is a web scraping API, and how does it bridge the gap between official data sources and online data collection? In this video, we explore the technical side of today’s data collection infrastructure, how APIs and web scraping relate, and the point where the line between them disappears.

In this final part of our API series, you'll learn how a web scraper API works under the hood to deliver stable, automated, and structured data for any needs.

We break down the core concepts data engineers and developers use every day, including:
✅ The key differences between an official API vs web scraping
✅ What a web scraping API is and how it works
✅ Real-world use cases for automated data collection
✅ The legal and ethical questions of public data collection, use, and compliance

This video connects the dots for anyone curious how APIs are used in data-powered AI workflows, market research, or enterprise scraping automation in the modern data economy.

📚 *ADDITIONAL RESOURCES*
✏️ Part 1 – What is an API: youtu.be/0xFXmJgVgzc
✏️ Part 2 – How AI APIs Actually Work: youtu.be/4ylNDFYH2xs
✏️ RAG and AI data pipelines: youtu.be/KNvkUH50xXM
✏️ More on web scraping and APIs on our blog: https://oxy.yt/0mIC

🔧 *OUR SCRAPING SOLUTIONS*
Web Scraper API:
👉 https://oxy.yt/mmE3
Residential Proxies:
👉 https://oxy.yt/smRS
Mobile Proxies:
👉 https://oxy.yt/CmTT
ISP Proxies:
👉 https://oxy.yt/CmT3
Datacenter Proxies:
👉 https://oxy.yt/0mOT

⏳ *TIMESTAMPS*
0:00 - Intro
0:49 - API vs Scraping
2:36 - Is web scraping legal?
3:40 - What is a web scraping API?
4:54 - How a web scraper API works
6:05 - Real-world examples
6:44 - APIs and AI workflows
7:17 - Key takeaways
8:13 - Next steps

💬 *CONNECT WITH US*
24/7 Support Team: support@oxylabs.io 
Website: oxylabs.io 
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/oxylabs 

© 2026 Oxylabs.
All rights reserved.

#WebScraping #ScrapingAPI #DataCollection

Web Scraping APIs Explained: Data Collection Guide 2026