Browsers

Newsgroups

Listservs

Indexes

Searches

Evaluating sites

Mass media

Government

Specialized sites

Reference

Glossary

Single Search Engines

     General sites that use a single search engine are probably the most widely used search instruments. Many of them are available, from very popular sites to seldom-used ones. It would be impossible to try to cover many of them here, so this presentation will be limited to a few.
     Most of these sites have both basic and advanced search options. The latter are usually designated "power search" or "advanced search." If you want to do a quick and easy search, the basic site might suffice. If you want to include conditions, such as Boolean operators, choose the advanced option. Be aware that in some cases Boolean words and symbols will work with a site's advanced option but not with its basic one. Note also that some advanced search sites use menus to select options rather than allowing use of Boolean words and symbols.

Google

     Google finished second in 2004 in competition for Search Engine Watch's  Outstanding Search Service Award after taking first place the previous four years.
     This search engine offers a simple interface, unlike some search sites where finding the search box may be difficult.. Just put a word (or several words) in the search box and hit the search button. Through its preferences option you can choose how may hits you want displayed in each results window, whether you want each link opened in a new window when you click and other things.

AllTheWeb.com

     AllTheWeb (also known as FAST) tied with Yahoo! for second place in Search Engine Watch's 2003 Outstanding Search Service award. Editors said, "AllTheWeb provides very relevant, fresh and comprehensive results." They also cited its URL Investigator as the Best Search Feature for 2003. That feature lets you enter a URL in AllTheWeb's search box to learn more about the site.
     This site's opening page is almost deceptively simple -- much like that of Google. Two links to the right of the search button, however, allow you to fine-tune your search and/or the way you use AllTheWeb. The Advanced Search link (the same as the one a few lines up on this page) give you choices concerning use of boolean operators, inclusion of only certain types of files, a range of dates, etc.
     The Customize Preferences link takes you to a page that gives you control over how your searches are conducted and presented. You'll even find there another link (Advanced Settings) that provides even more customization.

AltaVista

     AltaVista launched the search movement in the early days of the Web. In recent years, other search sites have surpassed AltaVista in ease of use -- especially for power searches. AltaVista still requires use of Boolean terms for advanced searching, whereas many other sites have gone to use of menus to select search options.

Ask

     This search engine was known as Ask Jeeves, and it featured a cartoon character of a butler. Early in 2006, however, the company retired Jeeves and changed the search engine's name to simply Ask. The main search page offers 10 tabs that allow you to search different categories (Web, images, news, etc.) For even more options, a "Next" link at the bottom of the tabs takes you to a set of 10 more tabs. And an Edit link lets you reorganize the tabs if you prefer to do so.

Clusty

     An unusual feature of Clusty is that it clusters your search results into categories. When you submit an expression for a search, you'll find a list of hits as with other search engines, but you'll also see folders in the left part of the browser's window. They will contain other hits grouped by topic. That feature can save a lot of time, since you won't have to wade through as many results that are not relevant to your focus.