Definition:
A bot (short for “robot”) is an automated software program that performs repetitive tasks, often without human intervention.
Working Principle:
- Operates based on predefined rules, scripts, or AI algorithms.
- Can interact with users, systems, or other bots.
- Runs on servers or cloud platforms.
Types of Bots:
- Web Crawlers (e.g., Googlebot for indexing websites).
- Chatbots (AI or rule-based conversational agents).
- Malicious Bots (e.g., spam bots, DDoS bots).
- Game Bots (automate actions in video games).
- Social Media Bots (auto-post, follow, or like content).
Purpose/Functions:
âś” Automates tasks (e.g., scraping data, moderating content).
âś” Performs high-speed actions (e.g., stock trading bots).
âś” Can be helpful (customer service) or harmful (spam).
Examples:
- Good Bots:Â Googlebot, GitHub Actions bots.
- Bad Bots:Â Spam comments bots, credential-stuffing bots.