ABSTRACT

Search engines are the front-ends of massive databases. Users can key in search strings which when submitted return hyperlinks to records that include matching content. There are thousands of Internet search engines, ranging from those that catalogue files lodged at a particular site to those that regularly process tens of millions of files distributed on servers dispersed across the world. Some search engines target specific types of resource — electronic mail addresses or newsgroup messages — whereas others process files covering a variety of resources. The effective use of search engines requires the acquisition and perfection of specific search skills.