Untangling the Web with Search Engines
A search engine looks for terms that appear in its index of Web pages, rather than searching the Web in real time. Even the largest search engines have only indexed about 1/6 of the Web in their databases, so if you only use your favorite search engine you will be missing out on over 75% of the available resources.

Every search engine is different, from the way you search it to what it contains. You will probably want to select a few search engines and learn the tricks for searching those effectively.
1. What kind of information will you find in a search engine?

Some search engines reference all sorts of Web pages, while others concentrate on particular types of information or subjects.

general

  • contain the largest indexes of Web pages
  • cover a wide variety of topics and sources
  • good for finding facts or information related to your topic
  • Examples: Google, Yahoo!, AltaVista, HotBot

specialized


2. What are some ways I can become a more successful searcher?
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Need help with your search?

Millions of Web resources are available to you. How do you find the best ones?

The librarians at the Cline Library are experienced in selecting and evaluating reliable resources. Take advantage of their experience and Ask A Librarian for help.


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