Data extraction

Data extraction is the act or process of retrieving (binary) data out of (usually unstructured or badly structured) data sources for further data processing or data storage (data migration). The import into the intermediate extracting system is thus usually followed by data transformation and possibly the addition of metadata prior to export to another stage in the data workflow.

Usually, the term data extraction is applied when (experimental) data is first imported into a computer from primary sources, like measuring or recording devices. Today's electronic devices will usually present a electrical connector (e.g. USB) through which 'raw data' can be streamed into a personal computer.

Typical unstructured data sources include web pages, emails, documents, PDFs, scanned text, mainframe reports, spool files etc.

The act of adding structure to unstructured data takes a number of forms

• Using text pattern matching to identify small or large-scale structure e.g. records in a report and their associated data from headers and footers;
• Using a table-based approach to identify common sections within a limited domain e.g in emailed resumes, identifying skills, previous work experience, qualifications etc using a standard set of commonly used headings (these would differ from language to language), eg Education might be found under Education/Qualifaction/Courses;
• Using text analystics to attempt to understand the text and link it to other information

Software

• Web-scraping software comparison

Benefits of Web Data Extraction

• Low cost:- By Using Web Data Extraction service, you can save your hundreds of thousands of man-hours and money.
• Accurate Results:- With the Web Data Extraction system you can get the most accurate and fast results that cannot be collected by human beings. So that you can generate harvest product pricing data, sales leads, duplicate an online database, capture real estate data, financial data, job postings, auction info and more easily and happily.
• Fast Results:- For a job costing 25 human days, you can finish a job in only 3-4 hours by using web data extraction services. So that you can save your time, money, and labor in your business and get an obvious time-to-market advantage over your company’s competitors.