What they are and how they work

Introduction to Search

Engines

With billions of web pages on the World Wide Web, how can you find exactly what you're looking for?

By using a search engine.

What is a search engine?

Basically, a search engine is a software program that searches for sites based on your search terms.

Search engines look through their own databases of information to find what you’re looking for.

Search engines are specialized web sites that help you find what you're looking for on the Web.

All you have to do is type in one or more keywords, and the search engine will look for matching web sites from all over the Web.

Google, Yahoo, and Bing are three of the most popular search engines. Each has its own unique features, but the process of doing a search is very similar on each.

Comparing Search Engines

Search for invention cellphone in the following

search engines and compare the results: (also notice that results at the very top and right-hand column are often paid ads!)

•Google google.com

•Yahoo search.yahoo.com

•Bing bing.com

How Do Search Engines Work?

All search engines go by this basic process when conducting searches, but because there are differences in search engines, there are bound to be different results depending on which engine you use.

1. The searcher types a query into a search engine.

2. Search engine software quickly sorts through literally millions of pages in its database to find matches to this query.

3. The search engine's results are ranked in order of relevancy.

Using the Search Bar

• To do a search, just type what you're looking for (known as the search terms) in the search bar, and then press Enter.

• Many browsers will also allow you to add to or change the search engines used by the search bar.

Many browsers have a built-in search bar, located to the right of the address bar.

Search bar in Safari browser

Want to learn more about search engines?

How search works test(3 min.

video) The life span of a Google query is less then 1/2 second, and involves quite a few steps before you see the most relevant results. Here's how it all works.

What is a browser? (1 min. video) What’s the difference between a browser, an operating system and a search engine? If you’re confused, this basic explanation will be enlightening.