Searching the Internet FAQ
Q: How does a search engine differ from a directory?
A: The term "search engine" is often used to describe both search engines and directories. However, this is not correct. There are differences in the way search engines and directories gather and list information. Understanding how each one works will help you choose the best tool for your search.
A search engine is a website that lists information on all web content. "Crawler" software "crawls" the entire web, gathers all the pages and words that match your search, and then stores them in an online database. The process is completely automated and relies on the algorithms within the "crawler." Therefore, search engines are suitable for finding each and every page on the web having to do with your search terms. Google (www.google.com) and AltaVista (www.altavista.com) are examples of search engines.
An online directory is just like a Yellow Pages or White Pages directory. Unlike search engines that use software to gather their listings, directories depend on human beings manually checking each and every site submitted to them. Businesses submit short descriptions of their website, along with a link to their web page, and then editors review and approve or reject the listings depending on site content, quality and other criteria set by the directory's managers. While the information in a directory does not reflect the content of the entire web, it may be better at presenting good quality data that closely matches what you were looking for, assuming you trust the site's editorial judgment. The Open Directory (www.dmoz.org) is an example of directories.
Q: What are some basic searching tips?
A: First, be very specific and type in the search field exactly what you are looking for. Do not be broad. If you are looking for "tennis shoes" for example, do not type in "tennis" only, because this will bring up results for tennis racqets, tennis courts, tennis balls, etc. Using the search terms "tennis shoes" will primarily bring up the pages that contain both keywords, then other pages that contain only on of them. If you want to ensure that you search for the pages containing ALL the words you entered in the search box, excluding the pages that include just one of them, you can use the "+" symbol. For instance, in the previous example, you could refine your search by typing: tennis+shoes. The "+" symbol is very useful when you do a search and find yourself overwhelmed with information.