This document provides an introduction to search engines, including what they are, how they work, and how to use them. It explains that search engines are software programs that search their databases for websites matching search terms. Popular search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing index billions of web pages and return results ranked by relevance. The document compares results from different search engines and outlines the basic process search engines use to conduct searches. It also describes how to use the search bar in browsers to search the web.

1. Introduction to
Search Engines
What they are and how they work

2. With billions of web pages on the
World Wide Web, how can you find
exactly what you're looking for?
By using a
search engine.

3. What is a search engine?
Basically, a search engine is a software program that
searches for sites based on your search terms.
Search engines look
through their own
databases of information to
find what you’re looking for.

4. Search engines are specialized web
sites that help you find what you're
looking for on the Web.
All you have to do is type in one or
more keywords, and the search
engine will look for matching web sites
from all over the Web.
Google, Yahoo, and Bing are three of
the most popular search engines.
Each has its own unique features, but
the process of doing a search is very
similar on each.

5. Comparing Search Engines
Search for invention cellphone in the following
search engines and compare the results:
(also notice that results at the very top and right-hand column are often paid
ads!)
•Google google.com
•Yahoo search.yahoo.com
•Bing bing.com

6. How Do Search Engines Work?
All search engines go by this basic process when conducting
searches, but because there are differences in search engines,
there are bound to be different results depending on which engine
you use.
1. The searcher types a query into a search engine.
2. Search engine software quickly sorts through literally millions of
pages in its database to find matches to this query.
3. The search engine's results are ranked in order of relevancy.

7. Using the Search Bar
Many browsers have a built-in • To do a search, just type what
search bar, located to the right of
the address bar.
you're looking for (known as
the search terms) in the
search bar, and then press
Enter.
• Many browsers will also allow
you to add to or change the
search engines used by the
search bar.

8. Search bar in Safari browser

9. Want to learn more about search engines?
How search works test(3 min.
video)
The life span of a Google query is less
then 1/2 second, and involves quite a
few steps before you see the most
relevant results. Here's how it all works.
What is a browser? (1 min. video)
What’s the difference between a
browser, an operating system and a
search engine? If you’re confused, this
basic explanation will be enlightening.