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Search Engines

The term "search engine" usually refers to a program which allows you to look through a database. The database is create using an indexing program called a robot. There are quite a few robots out there now and more all the time.

We are going to focus on the interfaces to the different search engines. When looking at these different engines please keep the following questions in mind:

1. What are some of the differences between these search engines?
2. What kind of flexiblity do the interfaces give you?
3. Can you find certain things on one that you cannot on another?

Yahoo! Search Options
(http://search.yahoo.com/bin/search/options)

Details the different types of searches you can do with the Yahoo! search engine.

Alta Vista Simple Search Options
(http://www.altavista.digital.com/av/content/help_simple.htm)

The Alta Vista Search engine is the engine behind a lot of the "different" search engines on the net among them: Yahoo · CNET's SEARCH.COM · InfoSpace's Directories · BlueWindow · LawCrawler · PeekABoo · WorldPages · Internet Sleuth · TechWeb · Carrefour.net International · THE ANGLE · Netcreations · WhoWhere. This link points to instructions on how to do a simple query effectively.

Alta Vista Advanced Search Options
(http://www.altavista.com/av/content/help_advanced.htm)

This link shows how to do an advanced query. What are some of the differences between the simple and advanced?

HotBot Help
(http://www.hotbot.com/help/)

This shows how to use the HotBot search engine.

WebCrawler Help: Basics of Searching
(http://www.webcrawler.com/WebCrawler/Help/Basics.html)

Basic searches using WebCrawler.

WebCrawler Help: Advanced Searching (http://www.webcrawler.com/WebCrawler/Help/Advanced.html)

Advanced searches using WebCrawler.

[OPTIONAL] The WebCrawler Web Voyeur
(http://webcrawler.com/SearchTicker.html)

This is a Java program that displays what people are searching for when they use WebCrawler. This is really cool, weirdly fascinating...