Introduction Internet Background Information Basic Research Strategies Online Content Evalutation Online Search Strategies Online Reference Tools & "Pearls" Directories+ Search Engines Meta-Searchers Learning & Keeping Up Bibliography

S E A R C H E N G I N E S . . . Search Engines consist of several parts, including automated computer programs called "spiders, worms, robots", etc., that scan the Internet regularly for new web sites and links. This information is incorporated into a constantly updated and growing database or index which is keyword searchable. A search interface to their own database is provided on their web page. The searcher enters a "query" and submits it to the search engine. Each search engine has its own search parameters which can help to refine your search. Each search engine also has its own criteria for what it chooses to index of a web site. Some index every word, others only choose the title, headings, and first 100 words. These differences can give you different results for the same query used in various search engines. Search Engine Comparisons You can compare major search engines based on the following features: 1. Size of the database / index 2. Frequency of updating of the database 3. Search interface 4. Search logic (e.g., phrases, Boolean, etc.) 5. Availability of search help or tip screens to help with formulating a query 6. Speed of returning a result list 7. Results-list display features & presentation 8. Other features of note 9. Overall ease of use Current top search engines ALTA VISTA, EXCITE, INFOSEEK, and LYCOS. Also HotBot, Northern Light Search, and Webcrawler. *Some of the updated info below comes from Search Engine Watch. S E A R C H E N G I N E D E T A I L S . . . http://altavista.digital.com Alta Vista is one of the largest and fastest search engines, a showcase for Digital Equipment Company's mainframe computer technology. It indexes all words in a web document, or if available, uses the META tag information. On the results page, REFINE lists related terms and offers the user the choice of adding or deleting them from the query *1/98 -Recently upgraded, gives more relevant results. Size: 100 million pages (11/05/97) Update Freshness: 1 day to 3 months (dates pages? yes) Search Interface: keyword Search Logic: simple, Boolean, wildcards Search Help: yes Speed: very fast! Results List: Most likely documents at top. Other? Search Web or UseNet News, can specify languages. http://www.excite.com Excite includes reviews of web sites and has recently purchased and added several "added value" features. (see "Other?" below) Size: 55 million pages (11/05/97) Update Freshness: 1 to 3 weeks (dates pages? no) Search Interface: concept and keyword, artificial intelligence finds "synonyms" for your keywords. Search Logic: simple, Boolean in CAPS, exact phrase in quotes Search Help: yes Speed: fast. Results List: ranked by relevancy, has summary, "more like this" option. Other? city.net, live (personalized web page), newstracker (personalized news), talk (discussion groups); Excite's Sidebar has other choices. http://www.infoseek.com Characterized as being fast and accurate, giving relevant results. Size: 30 million pages (11/05/97) Update Freshness: minutes to 2 months (dates pages? no) Search Interface: keyword Search Logic: no Boolean but does use + and -, capitalize proper nouns, use quotation marks with phrases. Search Help: yes Speed: fast. Results List: more relevant results than some other search engines. "Related Topics" at top of page. Tells size of link page. Other? a new high-powered search engine called "ultraseek"; Street Maps; other Directory type information including personalized news. http://www.lycos.com Lycos acquired one of the premier directories, Point Communications, and now lets you select from the rate "Top 5% Sites" as well as "A2Z Sites by Subject". Size: 30 million pages (11/05/97) Update Freshness: 1 to 2 weeks (dates pages? yes, in details) Search Interface: keyword, sound, pictures, by subject. Search Logic: keyword... do check Help file! Search Help: yes Speed: fast. Results List: Other? Pictures & Sounds; Point Top 5% Sites, TopNews, PeopleFind, Stockfind, etc.