Web Mining

Web mining is a form of data mining oriented toward analyzing portions of the World Wide Web. This can include information contained within it, as well as information regarding its usage and structure. Data are gathered via automated means, either directly from the web itself or indirectly through server usage logs. It is then analyzed using data mining techniques. The results can be used for a wide variety of purposes, including technical assessments, targeted advertising, market research, military intelligence, and government analysis, among many other possible applications. This entry examines the types and goals of web mining and discusses controversies associated with web mining.