Bots & Metadata Facets: A FromThePage.com Guide

Hey guys! Ever noticed your website getting bogged down by relentless bot traffic? It's a common headache, and in the case of FromThePage.com, we've been seeing a specific pattern: bots getting lost in the labyrinth of metadata facets. This isn't just about a few extra page views; it's about real users experiencing slower load times and a less-than-ideal browsing experience. In this article, we'll dive into the problem, explore potential solutions, and offer some insights into how we can keep our sites running smoothly for everyone.

The Bot Problem: A Deep Dive

The issue at hand involves bots, those automated programs that crawl the web, indexing content and gathering information. While they're useful for search engines and other services, they can become a nuisance when they start behaving in unexpected ways. In our specific scenario, these bots are getting stuck within our collections that have metadata facets. Think of it like a digital maze where each facet (like a county, date, or document type) presents a new path. The bots, in their quest to explore every nook and cranny, end up diving into every possible permutation of these facets, multiple times over. This leads to a massive surge in requests, overwhelming the server and impacting the user experience. You can picture it like a ton of people all trying to get through the same doorway at once – it's going to cause a bottleneck!

This behavior is particularly problematic because metadata facets are designed to help users narrow down their search and find relevant content quickly. However, when bots abuse them, they transform from helpful navigation tools into performance bottlenecks. For example, consider a collection of death certificates. Each certificate might have facets like county of death, date of death, and cause of death. A bot, in its zealousness, might try every combination of these facets, creating hundreds or even thousands of unique URLs, each triggering a database query. This kind of activity can quickly exhaust server resources, leading to slower page load times, or in severe cases, even site outages. The solution is crucial.

To better understand this, take a look at the data provided. It clearly shows a lot of requests with different combinations of search parameters. Each search[s1][] parameter represents a different county in Utah, and the search[work-collection_id] parameter specifies the collection. This kind of traffic, repeating the same queries with minor variations, is a tell-tale sign of bot activity. The high number of hits for each of these URLs highlights the scale of the problem. It is imperative to have a way to control this type of traffic.

Potential Solutions to Keep Bots Out

So, what can we do to mitigate this issue and keep bots from wreaking havoc on our servers? Fortunately, there are several potential solutions we can explore.

One approach is to convert the form to a POST request instead of the typical GET request. In a GET request, the search parameters are appended to the URL, making them easily accessible and crawlable by bots. On the other hand, a POST request sends the data in the request body, making it less straightforward for bots to explore all possible combinations. This can act as a simple yet effective barrier, discouraging bots from diving into all the facet permutations.

Another idea is to hide the facet search form from users who aren't logged in. This assumes that bots are less likely to be logged in, and by restricting access to the search form, we can reduce the number of requests generated by bots. This approach will also help to provide a better user experience for real users. If only logged-in users can access the facet search, it will limit the potential for abuse. However, this may come at the cost of the search engine optimization (SEO) of the website, because it will be harder for the search engines to crawl these pages.

We could also implement rate limiting. This means setting a limit on the number of requests a single IP address can make within a certain time frame. If a bot starts making too many requests too quickly, we can simply block it or slow it down. This can be a practical solution to mitigate the impact of bot traffic. This can be implemented at the server level or within the application itself. The goal is to identify and throttle requests from bots before they can significantly impact performance.

Furthermore, we can analyze the user-agent strings of the incoming requests. User-agent strings provide information about the client making the request, such as the browser or bot type. We can identify and block known bot user-agents, reducing the amount of bot traffic. This approach would require regularly updating our list of known bot user-agents to stay effective. This would be a more precise approach that focuses on the source of the bot requests.

Finally, we could use a CAPTCHA to verify the user is human. This is the least user-friendly, because it will impact human users. However, it can effectively block bots. The CAPTCHA approach may not be ideal for all situations, but it can be very useful to stop bot attacks.

Analyzing the Data: What the Stats Tell Us

The provided data is a goldmine of information when it comes to understanding the extent of the bot problem. The URLs in the example show repeated requests to the same endpoint with varying parameters. These parameters are the search facets that the bots are exploring, trying every combination to find something. The sheer number of hits for each URL is staggering, highlighting how intensely these bots are crawling the site. The data allows us to prioritize the most problematic facets. We can identify which facets generate the most bot traffic and focus our efforts on protecting those areas of the site.

The fact that these requests are hitting the collection#show endpoint also offers valuable insight. This tells us exactly where the bot activity is concentrated. By focusing on this specific endpoint, we can tailor our solutions to target the source of the problem.

Looking closely, we can see the bot's behavior. The bots change a single parameter at a time in the search[s1][] array. Then, they repeat the same process with another search parameter. They are systematically exploring every possible combination. The bots are not intelligently searching for something, they are blindly exploring all possibilities. This blind approach is the key characteristic of the bot traffic.

From Theory to Action: Implementing the Fix

So, how do we put these solutions into action? The implementation will depend on the specific architecture of your website. However, here are some general steps and considerations.

1. Choose the Right Approach: Consider the pros and cons of each solution. Will converting to a POST request cause any compatibility issues? Is hiding the form behind a login feasible for your users? Does your website have the ability to perform rate limiting or user-agent analysis?

2. Implement the Solution: Start implementing the chosen solution. For instance, if you choose to convert to a POST request, modify the form in your code to use the POST method. If you decide to hide the form, you'll need to add logic to check if a user is logged in before displaying the form.

3. Test Thoroughly: Before deploying any changes to production, test them thoroughly. Make sure that the solution doesn't negatively impact legitimate users. Check to see if your solution blocks bots without affecting real users.

4. Monitor and Refine: After deploying the solution, monitor the server logs to see if the bot traffic has decreased. Refine your solution as needed. Maybe you need to adjust your rate limiting thresholds or update your list of bot user-agents.

5. Regular Maintenance: Keep up with regular maintenance. Regularly update your list of bot user agents. Make sure you are using the latest security patches to keep your site safe from bots.

Conclusion: Keeping Your Site User-Friendly

Addressing bot traffic is an ongoing process, but by understanding the problem, exploring potential solutions, and implementing them strategically, we can effectively mitigate the impact of bots and keep our websites running smoothly. The key is to be proactive, continuously monitor your site's performance, and be ready to adapt as bot behavior evolves. Remember, the goal is always to provide a great experience for your users. A fast, responsive, and user-friendly website will not only keep your visitors happy but also improve your search engine rankings and increase user engagement. So, let's keep those bots at bay and ensure our websites are accessible, usable, and enjoyable for everyone.

By staying vigilant, implementing the right solutions, and staying up-to-date with best practices, you can ensure that your website remains a valuable resource for your users.