Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFor ordinary programmatic access to Wikipedia, start with its own MediaWiki APIs—not a commercial scraping service. Use the MediaWiki REST API for documented, streamlined routes to search, retrieve, or transform page content; use the Action API when you need its broader query modules and operations. Both are available on Wikimedia projects. A third-party screenshot API is a different tool: it captures how a page looks, rather than returning structured page data.
Does Wikipedia have an API for scraping pages?
Yes. Wikimedia projects expose two first-party HTTP interfaces: the MediaWiki REST API, served through routes under rest.php, and the MediaWiki Action API, served through api.php. They are not interchangeable. Choose based on the output and operation you need, rather than assuming “scraping” means downloading and parsing page HTML.
| Need | MediaWiki REST API | MediaWiki Action API |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | A smaller, streamlined set of documented operations, including search, page retrieval or transformation, and history. | A broader interface, including query modules for page properties, lists, and wiki or user metadata. |
| Request shape | Structured REST-style URL routes under rest.php. |
api.php plus parameters such as action, a query module, and format. |
| Output fit | JSON or HTML, depending on the route. | Commonly JSON for programmatic queries. |
| Design note | MediaWiki documentation describes cached responses and better performance compared with the Action API; that is the documentation’s characterization, not an independent benchmark. | Use when its broader functionality or a needed module fits the job. |
For ordinary scripts, APIs generally provide a more direct path to structured results than fetching rendered pages and trying to extract data from their HTML. HTML can still be the right output if your task specifically concerns rendered content. MediaWiki’s REST API overview describes its operations, response types, and URL structure.
How do I scrape Wikipedia with a web scraping API?
For a simple search in English Wikipedia, make an HTTP GET request to the Action API endpoint with action=query, list=search, the search terms in srsearch, and format=json. Encode the query string using your HTTP client so spaces and special characters are escaped correctly.
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Python: search and read the JSON response
This example makes one search request and prints the returned result titles. It uses a descriptive User-Agent; replace the contact detail with one appropriate for your application.
import requests
endpoint = "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/api.php"
params = {
"action": "query",
"list": "search",
"srsearch": "web scraping",
"format": "json",
}
headers = {
"User-Agent": "ExampleWikipediaClient/1.0 (contact: [email protected])"
}
response = requests.get(endpoint, params=params, headers=headers, timeout=30)
response.raise_for_status()
data = response.json()
for result in data["query"]["search"]:
print(result["title"])The request pattern follows the MediaWiki Action API query tutorial. This is a documented example pattern, not a claim about execution in a particular environment. For a different task—such as getting page content, history, or rendered HTML—select the appropriate REST route or Action API module from the official references rather than treating search results as page data.
cURL: issue the same search request
curl -G 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/api.php'
-H 'User-Agent: ExampleWikipediaClient/1.0 (contact: [email protected])'
--data-urlencode 'action=query'
--data-urlencode 'list=search'
--data-urlencode 'srsearch=web scraping'
--data-urlencode 'format=json'Node.js: issue the same search request
const endpoint = new URL('https://en.wikipedia.org/w/api.php');
endpoint.search = new URLSearchParams({
action: 'query',
list: 'search',
srsearch: 'web scraping',
format: 'json',
});
const response = await fetch(endpoint, {
headers: {
'User-Agent': 'ExampleWikipediaClient/1.0 (contact: [email protected])',
},
});
if (!response.ok) {
throw new Error(`Wikipedia API returned HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
const data = await response.json();
for (const result of data.query.search) {
console.log(result.title);
}How do I get Wikipedia data in JSON?
Set format=json on an Action API request, as in the search examples. The API returns a JSON object whose fields depend on the chosen action and module; your code should inspect the response shape for that operation rather than assume all responses contain the same keys. The Action API tutorial explains request construction and module categories such as prop, list, and meta.
For the REST API, choose a documented route that matches the page or operation you need. Its routes can return JSON or HTML, and the route determines which representation and fields are available. See the REST API reference for the current routes and parameters. Use the Action API when the needed operation is not covered by a suitable REST route or when its query modules provide a better fit.
What User-Agent should a Wikipedia scraper send?
Send a descriptive HTTP User-Agent that identifies your software and gives Wikimedia operators a way to understand who is making requests. MediaWiki’s REST API policy states: “All API requests must include an HTTP User-Agent header.” Check the current Wikimedia User-Agent policy for its expectations about format; do not rely on a generic library default.
The sample identity above is illustrative. Replace it with your application’s real name and a contact address you monitor. Keep the value accurate, and do not impersonate a browser or another application to evade controls.
How fast can I send requests?
There is no timeless universal request-per-second figure to copy into a scraper. Follow the current API Usage Guidelines, any delay or throttling instructions returned by the API, and the applicable Wikimedia API policy. The Wikimedia Foundation’s API Policy Update 2024, version 1.0 dated August 26, 2024, says: “The specific numerical limits on any endpoint may change from time to time (for example, as current and predicted future load changes).” It also says operators must not circumvent imposed limits.
- Begin conservatively, especially if you are collecting many pages.
- Respect server requests to delay or reduce traffic; do not retry immediately in a tight loop.
- Cache responses when it suits your use case, and avoid fetching unchanged data repeatedly.
- For pagination or larger jobs, follow the chosen API module’s documented continuation behavior instead of inventing a shortcut.
The REST API policies page points to usage-policy guidance. Because limits and operational conditions can change, check the live policies before deploying a high-volume collector.
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Can I reuse or republish scraped Wikipedia content?
Retrieval does not remove reuse obligations. The applicable license can differ between Wikimedia projects and between content types. Before republishing, identify the project and the license attached to the material you collected; preserve required attribution and notices, and follow any other relevant license terms. Do not assume every article, image, or dataset has identical terms.
Wikimedia’s REST policy notes that content may be reused under the applicable license, while its policy update requires operators to follow license requirements when republishing downloaded or cached data. For consequential legal questions, consult a qualified adviser and check the terms for the specific content rather than relying on a general statement about Wikipedia.
When should you consider Wikimedia Enterprise?
The Action API overview points readers with commercial-scale needs toward Wikimedia Enterprise. That is an escalation path to investigate for sustained or commercial-scale workloads, not a requirement for a small script or ordinary API use. Confirm current pricing, eligibility, availability, and service terms directly with Wikimedia; those details are not established here. See the Action API overview for the official starting point.
Or skip the browser setup
If your task is to capture how a Wikipedia page looks—not to extract structured article data—ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API and MCP server. One GET request returns a PNG, JPEG, WebP, or PDF. Its clean-shot options can accept cookie or consent banners like a visitor and remove more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; each step can be turned off. Bot checks and CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits cost nothing, and response headers report the page verdict and whether the shot was billed.
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curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_scraping -o shot.webpSee the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for the request options and API key details. An MCP server provides take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf tools for Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients. The free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000. This is for page capture, not a substitute for MediaWiki’s structured data APIs. Sign up free for 1,000 screenshots a month with no card.
Troubleshooting a Wikipedia API script
The response is not valid JSON
Check that the request includes format=json for an Action API query and that you are calling an API route, not a normal article page. Confirm the HTTP status and response body before attempting JSON parsing; an HTTP error or a different route can return something other than the JSON shape your code expects.
The API asks you to slow down
Reduce request frequency and honor the delay or throttling instruction. Avoid automatic rapid retries, and consult current usage policies; do not work around an imposed limit by disguising the client or switching identities.
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Your expected field or page data is missing
Check that the selected Action API module or REST route actually returns the type of data you need. A search module returns search results, not necessarily the full page content. Consult the route or module reference and handle the response fields documented for that operation.
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Requests are difficult to attribute to your application
Add a real, descriptive User-Agent header that identifies your software and contact method, and verify it is being sent by the HTTP client. Follow Wikimedia’s current User-Agent policy.
You cannot republish an image or text excerpt with confidence
Do not infer the license from the fact that the material appeared on Wikipedia. Identify the specific project and item, check its applicable license and attribution requirements, and get legal advice if the intended use makes the distinction consequential.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a web scraping API required to collect Wikipedia data?
No. Wikipedia’s MediaWiki REST and Action APIs are first-party interfaces for programmatic access; a commercial provider is not automatically necessary.
Can a screenshot API return article text as structured data?
A screenshot API captures visual output. Use the MediaWiki APIs when you need article data in a programmatic response.
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