Students’ Guide to Web Search
Sure, the Internet is filled with cool sites like MySpace and YouTube, and lots of sites overflowing with information and help for homework assignments. But how do you know if a Web site is a good one? How do you know if the information it contains is truly reliable? The Students' Guide to Web Search helps you learn how to tell a good site from a garbage site, and shows you how to start searching smart.
Expand All Guide SectionsHow Search Engines Work
Using search engines such as Google or Yahoo is one of the fastest ways to find information on the Internet. Knowing how search engines work can help you get the most out of your search experience. Use this section to learn what search engines are and how they gather results.
Insights for How Search Engines Work
- Instead of using people to choose sites, search engines use a complex math equation (called an algorithm) to figure out what sites match a search term the best. An algorithm can’t determine if 5.8 million results are more than you need, or if the sites have useful or reliable information—that part is up to you.
Top Sites for How Search Engines Work
To learn how search engines work …
Webopedia
has an article called “How Web Search Engines Work” that covers the basics of how search engines gather results on the Web.
HowStuffWorks
has a detailed explanation of how search engines work, using helpful graphics to make the concepts clear.
Using Search Engines to Get Better Search Results
Did you know there are lots of ways to make search engines find better results? There are even ... read more »
Evaluating Web Sites
Search engines can’t tell whether a site has reliable or credible information. Even search ... read more »
Starting an Online Research Project
The most obvious places to start looking for facts online are search engines, but they’re not ... read more »
© 2009 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
