A URL seed list is a compilation of web addresses that serves as a starting point for web crawlers or scrapers. These crawlers use the URLs in the seed list to discover other related web pages by following hyperlinks. An example would be providing a web crawler with the homepage of a news website; the crawler would then navigate through the site’s various sections and articles based on the links found on that initial page.
Establishing a well-defined starting point is crucial for efficient and focused web crawling. It ensures that the crawler explores the intended domain or area of interest, optimizing resource usage and preventing irrelevant data collection. Historically, manually curated lists were the primary means of providing this initial guidance, but automated methods for seed list generation are increasingly common, especially for large-scale projects.