How it works

Understand the basic Octoparse workflow: build a task, test the extraction logic, run it locally or in the cloud, and export structured data.

Octoparse turns web browsing actions into repeatable extraction workflows. You define what to collect, how the website should be navigated, and where the results should go.

Most workflows follow four stages: build, test, run, and export.

Workflow overview

1. Build

   Start from a URL, template, or custom task. Select the data fields you want and define actions such as clicking, scrolling, pagination, and opening detail pages.

2. Test

   Run a small sample to confirm that Octoparse captures the right fields, records, and page sequence.

3. Run

   Execute the task locally for testing or in the cloud for scheduled, unattended, and larger-scale extraction.

4. Export

   Send the extracted results to files, spreadsheets, databases, cloud storage, or other connected systems.

Build the task

A task defines how Octoparse interacts with a website.

You can build a task by:

• Using a template
• Letting Auto-detect identify page data automatically
• Selecting elements manually in the no-code builder
• Adding actions such as click, scroll, loop, pagination, and wait
• Refining field values before export

The goal is to turn the website interaction into a reusable workflow.

Test the extraction logic

Before running a task at scale, test a small sample.

Check whether:

Check	Why it matters
Fields are correct	Prevents exporting the wrong values
Field names are clear	Makes downstream data easier to use
Pagination works	Ensures the task moves across result pages
Detail pages open correctly	Confirms nested page workflows are captured
Sample output looks clean	Reduces cleanup after export

Testing is especially important for dynamic pages, login-protected pages, infinite scroll, popups, and websites where data is loaded after user actions.

Run locally or in the cloud

Octoparse supports different run options depending on the task and your plan.

Run type	Best for
Local extraction	Testing, debugging, and tasks that rely on your local environment
Cloud extraction	Scheduled, unattended, and higher-volume extraction
Boost mode	Cloud tasks that need more speed or concurrency, when supported

The best option depends on the website, task complexity, required frequency, and whether the task needs to keep running when your computer is off.

Export the data

After a task runs, Octoparse stores the extracted results as structured records.

Common export destinations include:

• CSV
• Excel
• JSON
• HTML
• XML
• Google Sheets
• Databases
• Cloud storage

For automated workflows, use scheduled export or integrations so data can move downstream without manual downloading.

Related pages

Local vs cloud extraction

Compare run environments and choose the right execution mode.

Export formats

Learn which output formats Octoparse supports.