---
name: "Bio::DB::GenericWebAgent"
section: "3pm"
platform: "linux"
package: "libbio-perl-perl"
version: "1.7.8-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/Bio::DB::GenericWebAgent"
---

# Bio::DB::GenericWebAgent(3pm)

helper base class for parameter-based remote server access and response retrieval.

## NAME

Bio::DB::GenericWebAgent - helper base class for parameter-based remote server access and response retrieval.

## SYNOPSIS

```
  # DO NOT USE DIRECTLY
  See Bio::DB::EUtilities for an example implementation
```

## DESCRIPTION

WARNING: Please do **NOT** spam the web servers with multiple requests.

Bio::DB::GenericWebAgent is a generic wrapper around a web agent (LWP::UserAgent), an object which can retain, format, and build parameters for the user agent (Bio::ParameterBaseI), and a BioPerl class parser that processes response content received by the user agent. The Bio::ParameterBaseI object should be state-aware, e.g. know when changes occur to parameters, so that identical requests are not repeatedly sent to the server (this base class takes this into consideration).

## FEEDBACK

### Mailing Lists

User feedback is an integral part of the evolution of this and other Bioperl modules. Send your comments and suggestions preferably to one of the Bioperl mailing lists. Your participation is much appreciated.

```
  bioperl-l@lists.open-bio.org               - General discussion
  http://bioperl.org/Support.html  - About the mailing lists
```

### Support

Please direct usage questions or support issues to the mailing list:

*bioperl-l@bioperl.org*

rather than to the module maintainer directly. Many experienced and reponsive experts will be able look at the problem and quickly address it. Please include a thorough description of the problem with code and data examples if at all possible.

### Reporting Bugs

Report bugs to the Bioperl bug tracking system to help us keep track the bugs and their resolution. Bug reports can be submitted via the web.

```
  https://github.com/bioperl/bioperl-live/issues
```

## AUTHOR

Email cjfields at bioperl dot org

## APPENDIX

The rest of the documentation details each of the object methods. Internal methods are usually preceded with a \_

### new

```
 Title   : new
 Usage   : Bio::DB::GenericWebAgent->new(@args);
 Function: Create new Bio::DB::GenericWebAgent instance.
 Returns :
 Args    : None specific to this base class.  Inheriting classes will
           likely set specific parameters in their constructor;
           Bio::DB::GenericWebAgent is primarily a test bed.
```

## GenericWebAgent methods

### parameter\_base

```
 Title   : parameter_base
 Usage   : $dbi->parameter_base($pobj);
 Function: Get/Set Bio::ParameterBaseI.
 Returns : Bio::ParameterBaseI object
 Args    : Bio::ParameterBaseI object
```

### ua

```
 Title   : ua
 Usage   : $dbi->ua;
 Function: Get/Set LWP::UserAgent.
 Returns : LWP::UserAgent
 Args    : LWP::UserAgent
```

### get\_Response

```
 Title   : get_Response
 Usage   : $agent->get_Response;
 Function: Get the HTTP::Response object by passing it an HTTP::Request (generated from
           Bio::ParameterBaseI implementation).
 Returns : HTTP::Response object or data if callback is used
 Args    : (optional)
           -cache_response - flag to cache HTTP::Response object;
                             Default is 1 (TRUE, caching ON)
           These are passed on to LWP::UserAgent::request() if stipulated
           -cb     - use a LWP::UserAgent-compliant callback
           -file   - dumps the response to a file (handy for large responses)
                     Note: can't use file and callback at the same time
           -read_size_hint - bytes of content to read in at a time to pass to callback
 Note    : Caching and parameter checking are set
```

### get\_Parser

```
 Title   : get_Parser
 Usage   : $agent->get_Parser;
 Function: Return HTTP::Response content (file, fh, object) attached to defined parser
 Returns : None
 Args    : None
 Note    : Abstract method; defined by implementation
```

### delay

```
 Title   : delay
 Usage   : $secs = $self->delay($secs)
 Function: get/set number of seconds to delay between fetches
 Returns : number of seconds to delay
 Args    : new value
```

NOTE: the default is to use the value specified by **delay\_policy()**. This can be overridden by calling this method.

### delay\_policy

```
 Title   : delay_policy
 Usage   : $secs = $self->delay_policy
 Function: return number of seconds to delay between calls to remote db
 Returns : number of seconds to delay
 Args    : none
```

NOTE: The default delay policy is 3s.  Override in subclasses to implement delays.  The timer has only second resolution, so the delay will actually be +/- 1s.

### \_sleep

```
 Title   : _sleep
 Usage   : $self->_sleep
 Function: sleep for a number of seconds indicated by the delay policy
 Returns : none
 Args    : none
```

NOTE: This method keeps track of the last time it was called and only imposes a sleep if it was called more recently than the **delay\_policy()** allows.

## LWP::UserAgent related methods

### proxy

```
 Title   : proxy
 Usage   : $httpproxy = $db->proxy('http')  or
           $db->proxy(['http','ftp'], 'http://myproxy' )
 Function: Get/Set a proxy for use of proxy
 Returns : a string indicating the proxy
 Args    : $protocol : an array ref of the protocol(s) to set/get
           $proxyurl : url of the proxy to use for the specified protocol
           $username : username (if proxy requires authentication)
           $password : password (if proxy requires authentication)
```

### authentication

```
 Title   : authentication
 Usage   : $db->authentication($user,$pass)
 Function: Get/Set authentication credentials
 Returns : Array of user/pass
 Args    : Array or user/pass
```