Searching the Internet

Everyone familiar with the Internet knows that finding information can be overwhelming.  The results of a single search can yield dozens of links to sites that provide information on any given topic.  But, did you know that all searches are not created equal?  So, it is important to choose the best type of search tool to seek out information.

Search tools are classified in different categories:  “Metacrawlers”, “Search Engines” and “Web Directories & Catalogs”.  The category fits the search tool by the method they use to search.

Metacrawlers submit keyword terms entered by a user to multiple search engines and combine the results displayed to the user.  Because no single search engine has complete coverage of information, a metacrawler can help the user find relevant information without having to manually search each potential search engine.  Some metacrawler names are:  Mamma, Go2Net, Search.com, and Surfcorp.

Search Engines use an index method for a search, which allows users to browse information by topic or category with the results ranked by general popularity.  The oldest and largest search engine is AltaVista.  Some other search engines are: Google, Lycos, and Hotbot.
 
Web Directories & Catalogs use human-compiled lists of sites, often organized into categories.  As a result, directories' indexes tend to contain a comparatively small number of high-quality links.  A search of a directory or catalog tries to match a users inquiry against an abstract or description of the site, not the contents of the site itself.  Most web directories and catalogs also allow users to browse the categories, selecting subject areas until sites are found. 

Many directories and catalogs are complimented through partnerships with search engines to enhance their service.  MSN is considered a web directory along with Yahoo, Look Smart, Ask Jeeves, and Netscape.