Searching the Web

Web Searching Tutorials

Four NETS for Better Searching
A simple way to remember how to search more effectively using the Google search engine.

Searching the Web
A tutorial for beginners which teaches how to search the web, including the differences between directories and indexes, mastering the basics, and strategies for searching.

Guide to Effective Searching of the Internet
A tutorial to learn about searching the Internet, including a two-minute summary if you want only the basics.


Search Engines
The following websites and annotations are taken from the 2002 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation WebGuides.

All the Web
The first search engine to index 200 million Web pages, this site aims to index the entire Web.

AltaVista
AltaVista is one fo the largest search engines on the Web in terms of pages indexed.  It is available in many other languages, including Spanish, French and Chinese.

Ask Jeeves
Ask Jeeves is different from other search directories because it allows you to ask questions using natural language, rather than special searching techniques.  For example, you can type How do I change a flat tire? and Ask Jeeves will return the relevant information.

Excite
Excite offers many services in addition to a search engine, including free e-mail, shopping links, news, and daily horoscopes.

Google
Google has gained widespread praise for providing relevant results because the search engine ranks Web sites based on popularity.

Librarian's Index to the Internet
This index contains resources particularly useful to public library users.  The entries have been evaluated and annotated by librarians.

Teoma
Teoma promises you a "search with authority."  It not only gives you great results based on subject-specific popularity, but it also helps you refine your search and gives you a list of authoritative resources to help further your research.

What You Need to Know About
Professional guides organize the topics in this search tool.  For each topic an expert supplies Web site listings as well as their own articles or chat rooms where you can learn more.

Yahoo
Yahoo is one of the most popular search directories.  Yahoo offers features such as search sites for different categories, such as restaurants, and for specific cities and geographic regions.

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