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Q. What is a search engine?

A search engine is basically a Web site which allows you to type in a search term and generate search results from its index of Web pages. Search engines get their results by periodically scanning the Web to update their indexes and having Web sites submitted to them.

Q. Are there different types of search engines?

Yes. There are search engines, search directories, and meta-search engines.

A search directory basically relies on Web sites to be submitted to them. The directory then has an editor review the site and approve or disapprove of the site. If it is approved the site is added to the directory. With most directories the best way to find information is to use their hierarchy of categories. For example, if you are looking for soccer balls, instead of searching for soccer balls you click down through their list: Sports/Soccer/Equipment/Balls. Yahoo and Dmoz are search directories.

A true search engine uses a "spider" or "robot" to periodically scan and index Web sites on the entire Web. They will also accept submission requests. AltaVista is an example of a search engine.

There are also "meta-search" engines which do not maintain their own databases but will search several search engines when you request a search. Dogpile is an example of a "meta-search" engine.

Q. Why, when I search for "office stamps", do I get hundreds of sites that have nothing to do with my search?

There is nothing more frustrating then trying to do a search and ending up with page after page of Web sites that have nothing to do with what you are looking for. One of the reasons this happens is because different search engines require you to search differently and they rank sites differently. Lets take our "office stamps" example. If you just type in "office stamps" in the search box you will not only get sites that offer "office stamps" but also sites that offer stamps to collect, postal stamps, office furniture, office space, etc. This happens because the engines goes looking for any site that has "office stamps", "office" or "stamps" in either the title, description or key words. To narrow your search enclose your search terms in quotes.

Q. How can I get better search results?

Think about what it is you are looking for and narrow your search as much as possible. For example: If you are looking for someone that makes soccer balls don't search on "soccer balls", instead search for "soccer ball manufacturers". You should check your spelling, some search engines will attempt to match your search term(s) but others will not. Whenever possible use the longest word possible; if you are looking for a baker use "bakeries", you will get a list of sites that contain "baker", "bake" and "bakeries". Most search engines will have a page where you can use their suggestions to refine your search. Some may suggest using quotation marks, while others will have you place a - in front of a word to tell the engine that the word must not be included in results. Use the "regional" section whenever possible. If you are building a house in Rochester, NY, you don't care about a builder from Appleton, WI.