Best practices

  • Use the `text()` function in XPath to match elements with exact text content for precise selection.

  • Employ the `contains()` function to find elements that include a specific substring, which is useful for partial text matches.

  • For case-insensitive searches, utilize the `translate()` function in XPath to convert text to a single case before matching.

  • When searching for text within a specific attribute, combine attribute-specific queries with text-based functions to refine your search criteria.

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Common issues

  • Ensure that the XPath expression correctly matches the structure and tags of the HTML document to avoid selection errors.

  • Verify that the text being searched for does not include leading or trailing whitespace, as this can affect both exact and partial text matches.

  • Regularly update your XPath queries to accommodate changes in the website's HTML structure, which might otherwise lead to incorrect element selection.

  • Test XPath expressions in tools like browser developer consoles to ensure they accurately select the desired elements before implementing them in code.

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Useful resources

Using Google Sheets for Basic Web Scraping visuals
Guide to Using Google Sheets for Basic Web Scraping
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