What are search engines?

Tools used for locating web pagesAutomated software programs known as

spiders or bots to survey the Web and build their databases.

SE databases are knows as the search engine index

The best urls are returned to you as hits.

What is a URL?

Uniform Resource Locator: a protocol for specifying addresses on the Internet

An address that identifies a particular file on the Internet

Usually consisting of the protocol, as http, followed by the domain name

What is a domain?

A group of computers and devices on a network that are administered under the same protocol.

Indicates the type of organization, geographical location, or both

Designated in the suffix as .com for commercial enterprises in the U.S.

Domains to Know . . ..com = a commercial business.edu = an educational institution.gov = a governmental institution.org = a non-profit organization.mil = a military site.net = a network site

What’s the URL? The Domain?

ftp://www. pcwebopedia.com

http://www.pcwebopedia.com

Why would you use a Search Engine?Finding information on the WebLooking for a JobResearching a topic for school or a projectLooking for Health or Diet InformationMaking a purchase—new car, home,

computer, book, cell phoneLocating an old Friend or an AddressPlanning a Vacation

How Large is a Search Engine?

Some have logged the words from over 1 billion documents (REMEMBER that there are billions of pages on the Web.)

What Search Engine is the Biggest?

Google with 3.3 billion pagesAlltheweb.com with 3.1 billion pages

Some ExamplesLycos – one of the original SesAlltheweb – largest index, fastest look-up

timeAltaVista – a favorite until Google came!Excite – concept-based SE

How do Search Engines Work?Rely on computer programs called spiders or

robots to crawl the WebA robot is a piece of software that

automatically follows hyperlinks from one document to the next around the Web.

Scans its database and returns a file with links to websites containing key words

Getting Ready to SearchIdentify the Main Concepts in your topic

Determine the following: Synonyms, Alternate Spellings, Variant Work Forms

Example: hard stone, hard test or cardiac for the word heart

Know how to use the various search tools availableSearch Engine – Alta VistaSubject Directory -- Yahoo

What’s the Difference between a SE and a Subject/Web Directory?Less than there used to be . . .

Today SEs have built large subject catalogues

Subject or Web directories organize the Web into topics and subtopics.Arts, Science, Health, Business, News,

Entertainment

Think of SEs as an index that enables you to seek specific words and phrases.

When to use what?For broad, general information go to a

subject or web directory.

For narrow, specific information use a Search Engine

Which would you use for this example?You'd like to create your own home page on

the Web, but you don't know how to write HTML, you've never created a graphic file, and you're not sure how you'd post a page on the Web even if you knew how to write one.   In short, you need a lot of information on a rather broad topic--Web publishing.

Use a Subject or Web DirectoryTo find out about Web page publishing from

Yahoo, select the Computers and Internet Topic, under which you find a subtopic on the Wide World Web. Click on that and you find another list of subtopics, several of which are pertinent to your search: Web Page Authoring, CGI Scripting, Java, HTML, Page Design, Tutorials.  Selecting any of these subtopics eventually takes you to Web pages that have been posted precisely for the purpose of giving you the information you need.

Use a Strategy when Searching

Without a clear strategy, using a search engine is like wandering aimlessly in the stacks in a library trying to find a particular book!

Techniques to Effectively Use Search EnginesIdentify Keywords

Definition: A Keyword is any word on a Web page

Breakdown the topic into key concepts; use quotation marks to group words togetherExample: to find information about what the

FCC has said about the wireless communications industry use— FCC “wireless communication”

Principles for a Smart Search1. Know where to look first2. Fine tune your keywords3. Query by example—use the help options

that the SE provides4. Anticipate the answer

Search Ratings by SpidapGoogle -- Biggest, Fastest, Most

ComprehensiveGoogle – Most Relevant ResultsAltavista – Best Advanced Search RefinementAsk Jeeves for Kids – Best Search Engine for

KidsGoogle – Best Directory

Remember . . .1. You are smarter than a computer.2. Use your intelligence.3. Search Engines are fast, but dumb!

Bibliography/SourcesUsing Search Engines by Deb Flanagan, 2004The Spider’s Apprentice by Spidap, 2007