When using Selenium WebDriver to scrape websites or perform automated tasks one common challenge is getting blocked by websites due to repeated requests from the same IP address. To bypass IP-based restrictions and ensure uninterrupted access integrating proxy rotation into your Selenium setup is a practical solution. Proxy rotation is the practice of rotating through a pool of distinct IP addresses on each request making it harder for websites to identify and block your activity.
First, assemble a dependable proxy list these can be purchased from proxy providers or sourced from free lists, paid services generally provide better performance and reduced chances of blacklisting. Once you have your list, save the proxy endpoints in a text file or array for quick retrieval. Each proxy should be in the format http, such as .
Then, set up proxy settings within Selenium Selenium WebDriver allows proxy settings through the Options class. In Chrome, configure proxies through add_argument or the Proxy class for greater control the Proxy class is preferred for real-time proxy switching. Build a Proxy object with your target address and attach it to your browser options before creating the WebDriver instance.
Randomly pick a proxy from your pool on every new browser launch alternatively, you can cycle through them sequentially using an index that increments after each use. A randomized sequence makes scraping activity appear read more on hackmd.io natural while sequential use guarantees all proxies are utilized fairly.
Proxy failures are inevitable and must be managed not every proxy will work at all times. Implement error handling that cycles to the next proxy upon connection error. Cap the number of attempts to prevent endless looping. Use WebDriverWait with timeouts to prevent stalls from sluggish proxies.
Pre-test each proxy to confirm functionality. You can use the requests library to send a simple GET request to a site like httpbin.org. If the proxy doesn’t return the correct IP, eliminate it from your pool.
Finally, be mindful of the website’s terms of service. Even with proxy rotation, excessive automated traffic can still be considered abusive. Honor robots.txt directives, implement sleep intervals, and throttle requests. Technical cleverness must be paired with ethical compliance to avoid legal risk.
Proxy rotation + Selenium = a robust solution for evading detection. This approach is especially useful for long-running tasks or when accessing sites with strict anti-bot measures. Consistent maintenance and testing ensure your automation remains stable and undetected over time.