Search Engines Web Directories Meta Searchers and Others

Three major search tool groups are in wide use by the Internet savvy general public. Some of these are free, or advertising supported, and the others are fees based. To locate information on the World Wide Web, most computer users require the assistance of Internet directories, or search engines, from time to time. There are billions of WebPages cataloged yearly in thousands of search engines, directories and other sites all over the World Wide Web.

Search tool Categories:
  Directories - in their simplest forms - are all over the web. Almost every website has a list, table or pages of links. Some sites have more links than others do, and directories have the most links. By and large directories contain the most exact and accurate information, because they are often updated and maintained by humans. Also they are the hardest to get listed on, because of shortages of editors who are overwhelmed by the multitudes of newly created web sites and pages. Directories are also most to the point, as humans are not so easily fooled by the misrepresentations of unscrupulous page creators. Unless a web site is focused to a narrow line of activities, it may never fit into the narrow directory classification, and it may never be listed. One fine example of this is the wide scope; hobby oriented web site OddMix.com. Because of the many different and interesting areas it covers, not many directories have a category for it.

  are a computer program created to inventory - new or old - web sites, submitted or not submitted. Some search engines only catalogue paying sites, others are more freely admitting other web sites and web pages. Usually, search engines rank sites by proprietary algorithm's, and presenting them to the searcher in order of relevance (at least in theory) without regard to pay or nonpay status

  Meta Searchers - are getting a search term from their users, then they are subcontracting the actual search to various directories and search engines. Upon receipt of data from the contacted search engines, they are presenting the results to the requestor. That result can be neatly tabulated, or - most often - it is just as the Meta site's received them from the original source. They do this most often to generate traffic to their own sites.

  Other Search tools - Many other combinations of the above tools are in existence. Some provides convenience, others optimization, again others are created to fill specialized needs. A convenient, free combination searcher can be tried here on http://www.FoundOrNot.com. A more powerful combination OddMix PolySearch machine can be inspected at http://www.OddMix.com. The present "OddMix PolySearch Machine" allows choosing between some directories, several major search engines, and many powerful Meta searchers. The selected page will appear on their own separate pages, without the need to reenter the search terms. If you wish consulting even more search resources, please visit the OddMix search engine link page, to see many additional search tools and engines listed.