How do I find my IP address and why does it matter for scraping?

Your IP address is the unique identifier assigned to your internet connection that websites see when you make HTTP requests.

How to find your IP address:

• Use our HTTP Request Analyzer
• Command-line: curl ifconfig.me
• Websites like whatismyip.com

Why IP addresses matter for web scraping:

They're the primary mechanism websites use for rate limiting and blocking.

When scraping at scale, sending too many requests from a single IP address triggers anti-bot defenses that may:

• Temporarily block your IP (soft ban)
• Permanently blacklist it (hard ban)
• Require CAPTCHA solving
• Return different content or errors

IP address types and their impact:

Residential IPs:

• Assigned by ISPs to homes
• Trusted and rarely blocked
• Most expensive proxy option
• Best for aggressive scraping

Datacenter IPs:

• From cloud providers (AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean)
• Frequently flagged as suspicious
• Many scrapers use them, so they're often blocked
• Cheapest proxy option

Mobile IPs:

• From cellular networks
• Highly trusted (legitimate mobile users)
• Limited in availability
• More expensive than datacenter

Avoiding IP-based blocking:

1. Implement rate limiting: Control request frequency (typically 1-3 requests per second for respectful scraping)

2. IP rotation: Cycle through multiple IP addresses or proxies

3. Residential proxy services: Provide genuine home IPs that appear as legitimate users

4. Monitor for blocking: Watch for HTTP status codes:

• 429 (Too Many Requests)
• 403 (Forbidden)
• 503 (Service Unavailable)

Progressive rate limiting:

Some sites implement escalating enforcement:

1. Initial warnings (slower responses)
2. Temporary blocks (minutes to hours)
3. Permanent bans

Catching issues early is crucial to avoid permanent bans.