Did you know that one of the most frequently asked questions is: «What is a search engine?» – according to Google itself. Everyone uses search engines but we don’t understand enough about them. And it only gets worse when a question like «How do search engines work» pops up. Basically, search technology has become a central part of our lives and everyday routines, so it’s no wonder that people are stumped when it comes to understanding its meaning and purpose.
What exactly is a search engine?
A search engine is a program that allows users to find information via a searchable database. Each search engine has its own unique way of doing this, but the basics are the same across every platform: You type in what you’re looking for, and the engine shows you results that match what you’re searching for. A good example of a search engine is Google—you can type in anything and it’ll give you results that match your query.
What are some of the famous search engines?
All of the popular websites that you use to find information are essentially search engines. We have already mentioned Google as the most popular and well known one, but Yahoo and Bing for example work very similarly to Google and represent different versions of search engines.
How does it work?
A search engine’s job is to index all of the pages on the internet and make their content available for search.
In order to do this, a search engine must first figure out what words or phrases people are using to look for information online. To do this, it will crawl through millions of websites, indexing each page that contains at least one word from your query. Then it will compare those results with other pages on its own site and rank them according to how closely they match your query.
The most common type of search engine is called a «crawler» because it crawls through pages like a spider scurrying across grass. Other types include «meta-search engines,» which use algorithms to compile results from multiple other search engines; «social media search engines,» which rely on social networks to determine what people are searching for online; and «web directories» (like Yahoo! Directory), which offer links directly into specific websites or sections within them (such as «shopping»).
Why should you care about search engines?
You’re probably wondering why you need to know more about search engines. Well, here’s the deal: Search engines are a huge part of your online life—they’re the way you find pretty much anything online. You use them every day!
So why not learn more about them? Understanding what makes a good search engine and how it works can help you make smarter decisions about how you use the internet. If you know how search engines work, then you’ll be able to spot bad search results and avoid them in the future. You might also be able to help out friends or family who don’t understand how search engines work and need some advice on finding what they’re looking for online.