Web scraping is a technique used to extract information from websites. It involves using software or scripts to automatically gather data from web pages, which can then be stored and analyzed. This process is useful for collecting large amounts of information quickly, such as product prices, reviews, or news articles. The data obtained through web scraping can be used for various purposes, including market research, competitive analysis, and content aggregation. However, it's important to note that some websites have terms of service that restrict or prohibit scraping, so users should always check the rules before proceeding.