JEFFSelects: About Search Engines

Search engines find Internet sites from all over the world and on any topic. It's sometimes confusing, however, to know which to choose and what commands work with each one.

Use the help services below for background information, and always read the help files that most search engines provide at their sites. You may always ask a librarian for help.

• PCWebopaedia: Search Engines - clear introductory description, glossary, and links to further explanations, including a nice entry called How Search Engines Work.

• Search Engine Watch - track developments and features of the major search engines, by Danny Sullivan.

• Search Engine Showdown - comparative data and feature lists for all the major search engines, compiled and evaluated by librarian Greg Notess.
• Yahoo! Help Central - for help with all aspects of the popular Yahoo! search engine.