A search engine is a web site that helps you find other web sites. Think of it as the yellow pages, where you can look up a subject and get the address and phone number. Search engines will give you the web address (URL - Uniform Resource Locator) where you can find more information about the subject you are interested in on the World Wide Web.

There really are 2 types of search engines on the Internet:

1. Directories: are a type of search engine where the web sites have already been indexed and organized for you into subject categories. Most web sites found here have asked to have their URL listed. You can usually tell a directory by the list of category headings that come up after you enter a subject to search. These categories will expand into lists of subcategories and eventually into specific sites. Keyword searches are limited to the contents within the directory (and will not list all related sites on the WWW).
   
   
2. Search Engines: or "True" search engines are computer-indexed catalogs. Search engines use computer programs known as spiders that collect information from millions of web pages. Search engines use keyword searches only (no category headings). You will get many more results from a search engine than from a directory, but the results are usually more jumbled and often contain web sites that you do not want.

Some search pages include both directories and true search engines on the same page. Most search engines are free to use. Their operation is paid for by advertisements that appear on the search pages.

Search Engines/Directories to Use:

Tips for Keyword Searches

1. When using search engines consider the words you choose to describe your subject.
   
   
2. Be specific. Use descriptive words.
   
   
3. When you enter two or more words on a search line, it will look for web sites that have any of the words on them. This is called an "OR" search. For example a search for France travel will locate all web sites with either the word France or the word travel. This could produce quite a few web sites (sometimes in the millions). You might want to narrow the search down to Paris travel, or maybe just Paris.
   
   
4. You can use quotation marks (") to help with your search for a 2-3 word phrase. This is called an "AND" search. For example a search for "silver dollars" within quote marks, will look for all documents or sites with the phrase "silver and dollars". Using quotation marks can help you narrow down a search.
   
   
5. Use lower case letters when typing in a subject for a search. Most search engines give better results if lower case letters are used.
   
   
6. Boolean Searches: Many search engines offer ways to conduct "AND", "OR", and "NOT" searches.
   
   
   • AND: use AND to limit your search. Typing candy AND sweets will retrieve all sites with the words candy AND sweets in them. Some engines use a plus (+) for AND.
     
     
   • OR: use OR to expand your search. Typing candy OR sweets will retrieve all sites with the word candy in them and all sites with the word sweets in them or both! Thus, you will get a much larger list of sites than you would using AND. Many engines automatically use OR for a list of words separated by spaces.
     
     
   • NOT: use NOT to limit your search. Typing candy NOT chocolate will retrieve all sites containing the word candy which do not contain the word chocolate. Some engines use a minus (-) for NOT.
     
     
7. Remember:
   
   
   • Quotations: many search engines will allow you to put quotations around two or more words and search only for that phrase instead of each word individually.
     
     
   • Try Several Engines: each search engine collects and organized the web pages differently. Try several if you are not getting the results you need.
     
     
   • Online Help: be sure to link to the help information section of the search engine page if you need more assistance.