# Compare Networks Over Time > Compare Networks Over Time is a free, web-based tool for comparing Issuecrawler networks, or data from a regularly scheduled crawl **Wikidata**: [Q126084855](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q126084855) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/compare-networks-over-time ## Summary Compare Networks Over Time is a free, web-based software tool designed to compare Issuecrawler networks or analyze data from regularly scheduled crawls. It serves as a utility for comparative analysis and content analysis within the digital humanities and social sciences sectors. The tool is indexed in the Text Analysis Portal for Research (TAPoR) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Open Marketplace. ## Key Facts * **Nature:** It is a software tool, specifically classified as an instance of software. * **Cost:** The tool is available free of charge. * **Platform:** It operates as a web-based application. * **Primary Function:** The tool is used for comparing Issuecrawler networks and data derived from regularly scheduled crawls. * **Methodology:** It supports the "comparative method," "analysis," and "content analysis." * **Repositories:** It is listed in the "Social Sciences and Humanities Open Marketplace" and the "Text Analysis Portal for Research" (TAPoR). * **Language:** The tool is described in English. ## FAQs ### Q: What specific data does Compare Networks Over Time analyze? A: The tool is built specifically to compare Issuecrawler networks. It also handles data derived from a regularly scheduled crawl, allowing for longitudinal analysis. ### Q: Is Compare Networks Over Time a desktop application? A: No, it is a web-based tool. This means it is accessed and operated via a web browser rather than being installed locally on a desktop computer. ### Q: What is the cost to use this software? A: Compare Networks Over Time is a free tool, as explicitly stated in its description and knowledge base entries. ## Why It Matters Compare Networks Over Time addresses a specific technical need in the field of web science and digital humanities: the ability to track and visualize changes in network structures over specific periods. By integrating directly with Issuecrawler—a prominent tool for mapping networks on the web—this utility enables researchers to move beyond static snapshots and conduct dynamic, longitudinal studies. The tool facilitates the "comparative method," allowing scholars to identify trends, shifts, and anomalies in network data that would be invisible in a single crawl. Its inclusion in reputable academic portals like TAPoR and the Social Sciences and Humanities Open Marketplace underscores its relevance and utility for researchers conducting content analysis and social science research. By removing the cost barrier (being free) and the technical barrier of installation (being web-based), it democratizes access to advanced comparative network analysis. ## Notable For * **Specialized Integration:** It is distinctively tailored for use with Issuecrawler networks, a niche specific to hyperlink network analysis. * **Longitudinal Capability:** Unlike standard network visualizers, it is specifically designed to handle data from "regularly scheduled crawls," facilitating time-based comparisons. * **Accessibility:** It is notably free and web-based, removing financial and operating system barriers for researchers. * **Academic Validation:** It is vetted and cataloged by major research infrastructures, including the Social Sciences and Humanities Open Marketplace. ## Body ### Functionality and Use Compare Networks Over Time is a specialized software utility developed to assist in the analysis of web-based networks. According to structured data from Wikidata and academic sources, the primary utility of the tool falls under three methodological categories: * **Comparative Method:** It allows users to juxtapose different network sets. * **Analysis:** It facilitates the general examination of network structures. * **Content Analysis:** It aids in interpreting the content and connectivity of the web data. The tool functions by ingesting data from **Issuecrawler**, a server-side application that maps linkages between websites. While Issuecrawler is effective for crawling the web, "Compare Networks Over Time" adds value by allowing the user to compare these crawled networks against one another, specifically focusing on data accumulated through regular, scheduled intervals. ### Availability and Cataloging As a digital resource, the tool has been archived and described in prominent digital humanities hubs. It is listed in the **Text Analysis Portal for Research (TAPoR)** under tool ID 461, a registry that catalogs tools for sophisticated text analysis. Furthermore, it is included in the **Social Sciences and Humanities Open Marketplace**, a European infrastructure for social science resources. ### Technical Classification Structurally, the entity is defined as **software** (non-tangible executable component). It is related to the broader concept of **Analysis**. The tool is described in English and was indexed with reference dates in November 2022. * **Web Resource:** [https://tapor.ca/tools/461](https://tapor.ca/tools/461) * **Marketplace Resource:** [https://marketplace.sshopencloud.eu/tool-or-service/PNBD30](https://marketplace.sshopencloud.eu/tool-or-service/PNBD30) ## References 1. [Source](https://marketplace.sshopencloud.eu/tool-or-service/PNBD30) 2. [Source](https://tapor.ca/tools/461)