How to Search the Web
findingDulcinea’s Guide teaches you how to find anything you are looking for on the Web, and will direct you to more Web sites to help you in any search. It will make you a smarter searcher, whatever you are looking for. For foreign-language versions of this guide, see the links under "More Guides..." on the right.
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Searching is the most popular way to find information on the Web, and search engines, which are ... read more »
This is a question most people don't ask, because established search routines are hard to escape. Statistics show that Google claims the largest percentage of the Web-searching user base, at nearly 50 percent. But with hundreds of alternatives, what has compelled each of these users to choose a particular search engine or site? Was it a rigorous and balanced testing of the alternatives, or something more akin to happenstance? While Google offers a good product, it isn't the only one out there, and every user could benefit by expanding beyond this ferocious online giant. In reality, there are many alternatives, each with its own set of merits, that are worth considering when your go-to engine fails you.
- Search engines allow users to do more than find keywords on Web sites. A majority of search engines have features that allow users to search specifically for images, videos, news, blogs, and much more. Links to these categories are generally found above the search bar, and need only to be clicked to activate the specialty search features.
- Each search engine’s index of sites is unique; each has a different formula for spidering through them. This means there can be significant variation in the results that different engines will generate for the same search terms. For an example of just how different it can be, visit the site Zuula. Zuula allows you to search across multiple platforms by putting them all in one location. After entering your search term, you'll be given a typical-looking results page. What makes it unique is that by clicking the tabs listed across the top of the page, you'll be given the results for your search term on each of the search engines listed. Google, Yahoo, MSN, Gigablast, Exalead, Alexa, Accoona, and Mojeek are all in one place.
- Many search engines draw on the technologies of a select few. For instance HotBot provides a way to toggle between results on Ask.com, MSN, and the visual search engine lyGo.com. AOL Search relies upon Google, and according to Search Engine Watch, the results produced are very similar.
- These Picks represent a selection of the best search engines, and are certainly as much as most Web users would need. But as this continually updated list on Wikipedia demonstrates, search engines come in all varieties, and their number is vast.
For an overview …
Internet Tutorials
, maintained by Laura Cohen, a Web Support librarian at the State University of New York at Albany, has a brief yet thorough explanation of the Internet and its components. Here Cohen lists and explains over 70 search engines, distinguishing between individual search engines, meta search engines, and search engine collections. If you know what you’re looking for but not sure where to start, use the “
How to Choose a Search Engine or Directory” link for recommendations.
For general search engines (also known as horizontal search engines) …
Google
is the heavy hitter in the industry. It offers an extremely useful tool. In addition to general Web searches, it’s easy to search for images, news, videos, and map searches by clicking on the appropriate category above the search box.
Yahoo
transitioned from its roots as a directory to offering search capabilities in competition with Google. Vertical searching of images, video, shopping, jobs, and audio is offered. The homepage is about as stark as any on the Web.
Ask.com
, formerly AskJeeves, was initially conceived and marketed as a search engine that interpreted plain-language questions, so you could literally ask the search engine to find you something. A recent makeover has left Ask.com with a very pleasing, minimal design and a Web 2.0 aesthetic. A range of vertical search options puts Ask.com at the forefront of the search market.
Live Search
is Microsoft’s search service. If you’re into online map services, Live Search Maps is a must. The aerial views and simple navigation that made Google Earth such a novelty are present here, with enhanced clarity in urban centers and stunning 3-D views.
For meta-search engines (search engines that compile results from other search engines) …
Ixquick
is the most comprehensive engine there is; it searches and compiles results from 12 of the most popular search engines on the Web. In addition to an elegantly simple design, it searches for pictures, finds phone numbers from around the world using an international directory, and compares prices for products using a global price search.
Exalead
is a sleekly designed search engine that offers a number of useful features, such as thumbnail images of search results, the option to cluster results by concept, and the ability to customize the organization of your results by variables such as file type, geography, or modification date.
Dogpile
assembles results from Google, Yahoo, MSN, and Ask.com. The real attraction of this search tool lies in its wide array of searchable media including images, audio, video, news, both yellow and white page directories, and a price-comparison feature. The audio search is particularly useful for finding mp3, midi, and .wav versions of songs and other audio clips.
For vertical search engines (those that only search specific topics) …
Search Engine Watch
provides a list of topic-specific search engines as well as the latest news in the search engine industry.
The Online Education Database
published an article of the “Top 25 Web 2.0 Search Engines” that features some of the new wave of search engines. Search engines of note include one for searching domain name information, multimedia search engines, and search engines that display results in graphically interesting ways.
Who knew?
Like.com
is a great tool for online shopping. This visual search engine allows you to use characteristics such as shape, color, or material to explore product photographs and find exactly what you want.
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