Directories are composed of web pages that are divided into topics or categories and are searchable. Most directories are sorted and edited by people not by computers. If you decide to explore a subject using a topic directory expect to retrieve fewer hits, but the since the sites have been reviewed and selected by people they tend to be more reliable. The majority of search engines now offer topic directories on their homepage. These provide information on a variety of listed subjects.
The latest term used to describe or in many cases replace the phrase "search engines" is portal. A portal is a "gateway" to the Internet. Most sites have subject directories, e-mail capabilities, news, weather, stock updates, and lots of advertising. These features are unrelated to searching options, but they are there with the hope that you will find these features useful and return to their page as a "one-stop" Internet site.
How do "search engines" search
Searching on the Internet is not done by humans but by programs called "spiders" or "robots." These programs are designed to go out into the World Wide Web and locate web pages, follow the links they offer, and take the information and add it to an index database. Webpage editors or professional webpage developers sometimes provide information about their pages as well. Most spiders return to the sites on a regular basis to look for changes or updates.
Each search engine programs its spider differently so that no two spiders conduct a search the same. Therefore, the results you’ll get will vary from engine to engine. For example, some spiders search for titles of web pages only, others look for particular words, or lines of text, still others reference every single word of a document. More on this topic
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Works Cited
Directories Take Center Stage, Available: http://searchenginewatch.com/9805-directory.html
How Search Engines Work,(Online). Available: http://searchenginewatch.com/webmasters /work.html
If Search Engines Were People, Available: http://websearch.about.com/internet/sites/websearch/library/weekly/aa052199.htm
Search Engine Watch: Search Engine Glossary, Available: http://searchenginewatch.com/facts/glossary.html
Seven Stupid Searching Mistakes, Available: http://websearch.about.com/internet/sites/websearch/library/weekly/aa051299.htm
Tips for Searching the Web, Available: http://www.neci.nj.nec.com/homepages/lawrence/searchtips.html
Trapped in the Web Without an Exit, Available:http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/10/circuits/articles/07tric.html
Barbara Belicose
Brookdale Community College Library