Searching the Web
Summary Description 5 Minute Guides looks at
search engines and directories.
Author
Publication
Roullas Top10 Simon Vandore
APC
Yes
Editorial InformationArticle Location
Article Topic 5 Minute Guides
Story Order
Story Group 001203
Post Date 28/11/2000 07:54 AM Status First Sub Entered by Simon
Vandore on 28/11/2000 06:54 AM
ImagesLead Picture
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Content
Introduction
Body
What is a search engine?
A program that automatically indexes information on Web sites in
order to answer user queries is commonly known as a search
engine. Examples include AltaVista, Hotbot and LookSmart. They
are programmed to automatically surf the Web, following link
after link to discover new content, adding the information to a
searchable index. The front-end for carrying out searches is
normally another Web page. For example, a user types 'frogs' into
the front-end and the search engine returns all the Web pages it
has discovered that contain the word 'frogs'.
How is a search directory different to a search engine?
Sometimes a search engine just isn't good enough. Machines don't
understand context, and the results you get from that 'frogs'
search might not include pages about tadpoles or swamps, both of
which are relevant to research about frogs. Directories of Web
pages compiled by human beings are a good alternative, especially
if you know exactly what you're looking for, but don't know where
to find it.
The biggest example is Yahoo, which was begun in 1994 by two
students of Stanford University in the US and has evolved into a
multinational company. Yahoo and other directories allow you to
'mine' data by clicking through related subject headings. For
example, if searching for 'frogs', you might proceed through the
nature category to amphibians, then to frogs, then perhaps choose
a page relating to tadpoles.
Some sites, particularly those that attempt to be a one-stop
portal for all Internet activity, such as Go.com, offer both
search engines and directories. There is no 'best' option for
finding information -- search engines tend to provide more
results, but directories can be more accurate.
What if I want to search a number of engines or
directories?
Some sites, such as Dogpile and Metacrawler, offer a combined
interface to multiple search sites. You type the query in once
and it is automatically sent off to each search engine in the
correct format and you receive results from each on one page. It
can take a long time for the all results to be returned, and you
can often get better results by refining your search on a single
search engine, but these combined interfaces can give you a good
idea of where to start.
How can I search more effectively?
Search engines work best if your query is as specific as
possible. When searching for information on frogs that live in
swamps, it would be a good idea to include the words 'tadpole'
and 'swamp' in your search, along with 'frogs'. Alternatively,
you can refine your search as you proceed, searching for 'swamp'
within your results for the original 'frogs' search.
Once you figure out which search sites work best for you, it's a
good idea to learn some advanced search methods. Some sites use
Boolean logic, where you can create search strings such as 'frogs
AND tadpoles NEAR swamp', but others have their own syntax. For
example, on AltaVista you can get more accurate results by
learning how to structure your search. If you want to search for
information about Jane Doe who starred in a Scottish TV show
called 'Shopping', you might not get the right results if you
simply typed her name into the search box. AltaVista would simply
give you all documents containing the word Jane or the word Doe.
Putting the name into quotation marks as "jane doe"
(case does not matter) makes AltaVista find all pages that
contain the two words together. A plus sign in front of a search
term means the resulting documents must contain that exact term,
while a minus sign means they must not contain it. Therefore, to
get the most accurate result from AltaVista your query might be
+'jane doe' +scotland +shopping.
How do I make sure my own site is included in a search
engine or directory?
Often a search engine will find your site without prompting, as
will the human compilers of directories. However, to ensure
speedy indexing and make your information more highly available,
it is best to submit your site to as many search engines and
directories as possible. You can visit each site and do this
yourself, or you can rely on a combined submission interface such
as submit-it.com.
When creating Web pages that you want to be indexed, it is
important to include <meta> tags that the search engine can
pick up and use to categorise the information. For example, a
description in the format <meta name="description"
content="about frogs, tadpoles and other life in the
swamp"> and a set of keywords written as <meta
name="keywords" content="slime, spawn, lilypads,
ribbit"> can help people to find your page. You can also
use <meta> tags to tell a search engine to ignore your
page.
What are some of the more unusual search engines and
directories?
Askjeeves.com is a powerful search engine which takes queries in
everyday language. It is presented as a virtual butler who is
there to answer all your questions. For example, you can ask
Jeeves 'Who is the prime minister of Australia?' and the search
engine will provide links to information about the current PM.
The Google search engine is also unusual in that it ranks results
based on how many other pages on the Web have a link to each page
it returns. The artificial intelligence used by Google often
seems like it can read your mind, but there are also times when
it is downright unhelpful. Keep a number of search sites
bookmarked and you can't go wrong.
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