IP rotation is the practice of changing the outgoing IP address used by your requests at defined intervals or events. If you’re new to proxies, start with an overview of what a proxy is. Then come back here to understand how rotation helps scale data collection, SEO checks, and automation while reducing blocks and rate limits.
At its simplest, IP rotation means:
Common rotation modes:
Implementation models:
To choose the right approach for your use case, understand the different types of proxies and how they behave (speed, trust level, geography, and cost).
Below are minimal examples. Replace credentials, hosts, and regions as needed.
curl -x 'http://user:pass@gateway.provider:8000' \
-H 'User-Agent: MyCrawler/1.0' \
'https://httpbin.org/ip'
# Many gateways accept a session or sticky parameter
curl -x 'http://user:pass@gateway.provider:8000?session=abc123&sticky=true' \
'https://httpbin.org/ip'
Use the same session value to keep the IP; change it to rotate.
import itertools
import random
import time
import requests
PROXIES = [
'http://user:pass@1.2.3.4:8000',
'http://user:pass@5.6.7.8:8000',
'http://user:pass@9.10.11.12:8000',
]
proxy_cycle = itertools.cycle(PROXIES)
def fetch(url, timeout=20):
for attempt in range(3):
proxy = next(proxy_cycle)
try:
r = requests.get(url, proxies={'http': proxy, 'https': proxy}, timeout=timeout)
if r.status_code in (403, 429):
time.sleep(2 ** attempt + random.random())
continue
r.raise_for_status()
return r
except requests.RequestException:
time.sleep(2 ** attempt + random.random())
raise RuntimeError('Failed after retries')
print(fetch('https://httpbin.org/ip').text)
# settings.py
DOWNLOADER_MIDDLEWARES = {
'scrapy.downloadermiddlewares.useragent.UserAgentMiddleware': None,
'scrapy_user_agents.middlewares.RandomUserAgentMiddleware': 400,
'scrapy.downloadermiddlewares.httpproxy.HttpProxyMiddleware': 750,
}
ROTATING_PROXIES = [
'http://user:pass@1.2.3.4:8000',
'http://user:pass@5.6.7.8:8000',
]
DOWNLOAD_DELAY = 0.5
RANDOMIZE_DOWNLOAD_DELAY = True
CONCURRENT_REQUESTS = 8
AUTOTHROTTLE_ENABLED = True
const { chromium } = require('playwright');
async function run() {
const proxies = [
'http://user:pass@1.2.3.4:8000',
'http://user:pass@5.6.7.8:8000'
];
for (const proxy of proxies) {
const browser = await chromium.launch({
headless: true,
proxy: { server: proxy }
});
const context = await browser.newContext({
userAgent: 'MyBot/1.0'
});
const page = await context.newPage();
await page.goto('https://httpbin.org/ip');
console.log(await page.textContent('body'));
await browser.close();
}
}
run();
Not exactly. Randomization is one strategy. Rotation also includes time-based and session-based policies that align with how targets detect abuse.
Stateless scraping: every request or every few requests. Logged-in or cart flows: use sticky sessions for 1–15 minutes. Tune based on block metrics.
If you rotate mid-session, yes. Use sticky sessions and maintain cookies to keep state intact.
Datacenter is fast and cost-effective for bulk workloads. Residential/mobile have higher trust but are slower and pricier. Pick based on target sensitivity and budget.
IPv6 pools can be massive and cost-effective, but some targets and networks lack full support. Test both; prefer IPv4 for maximum compatibility.
It depends on the target’s terms, local laws, and your use case. Obtain permission where required, respect robots and rate limits, and avoid personal data unless you have lawful grounds.
IP rotation spreads your traffic across many egress IPs to reduce blocks, improve reliability, and support accurate SEO and automation workflows. Start with a clear rotation policy, combine it with identity and session management, and monitor outcomes to tune performance. When you’re ready to scale, consider reliable, high-throughput bulk datacenter proxies to power your pipelines.
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