A: That's a tough question. The Netcr@cker presents several of the best search engines found on the Internet today. When you're looking for something, it's a good idea to conduct parallel searches with a few search engines, so that you don't miss out on any important sites. Also, don't forget to consider your own preferences- if you find one specific engine easy to work with, then use it!
Q: How do search engines know where to search?
A: Search engines are databases of information. They store information on Web pages, Gopher sites, and so forth, (according to the structure of the engines).
When you address a search engine, all it does is search its database and display a list of items that match your request.
Q: Do different search engines produce different results?
A: Yes. Since every site is submitted to different engines independently, each engine has its own list of sites, and will therefore produce different results when you conduct a search.
Q: Can I find the same information via different keyword searches?
A: You most definitely can! In most cases, an individual site has more than one keyword. For example, if the site is about airplanes, it can be reached when searching either for "flight" or for "air travel" .
This is because when a site has more than one keyword, it's more likely to be found.
Q: What's "Surfing the Net"?
A: "Surfing the Net" refers to the process of opening sites, reading them and using their hot links to continue exploring the Net.
Let's say you're looking for information on basketball. One of the sites listed on your list has names of famous basketball players. You enter the site and discover a reference to your favorite team. So you go to that site and spend some time there, and so on , and so on...
That's "surfing the Net"!
Q: Who submits new Web pages to the search engines?
A: Some search engine administrators conduct their own "research" - they browse through the Net and add any new Web sites to their lists.
Other search engines don't look for new pages. Instead, they wait for the site owners to register their new sites.
When an owner wishes to submit a new page, he/she has to type in the page's name, URL, abstract, and keywords, or define the specific subject the site should be cataloged under.
Q: What does the name "Veronica" stand for?
A: Veronica stands for Very Easy Rodent-Oriented Net-Wide Index to Computerized Archives.
Q: What does the name Jughead stand for?
A: Jughead stands for Jonzy's Universal Gopher Hierarchy Excavation And Display.
Q: Why wouldn't a Gopher site appear in the Veronica index?
A: There are a few possible reasons:
1. The site owner requsted to exlude the site from the index.
2. It's a new site that hasn't been updated on the Veronica index yet.
3. Technical reasons.
Q: I was looking for diving sites in the Meditteranean Sea, so I typed in "diving and sites and Mediterranean". Looking at the results, I think the engine ignored the "and" term. Does it mean I can't include "and" or "or" in my search?
A: Most search engines ignore the words "and/all", "or/any" , and "not" if you type them in. Defining the "and" "or" options is done either through the relevant menu, or by typing in "+" or "-" before the relevant keyword.
When using an engine, read its "help" section to learn exactly how to define the "and", "or", and "not" options.
Q: Can I use more than one option ("and" or "or") in my search?
A: You can do this only with engines where you type in the "and"/"or" options. Keep in mind that the engine "reads" the "and" option prior to the "or" option. If you want the "or" to be read first, put it inside parentheses.
Q: Why is it harder to find an E-Mail address than it is to find a Web site address?
A: Web site owners constantly provide the search engines with updated information so that users can get to them easily. Moreover, some engines "investigate" on their own and add additional sites to their lists. This is quite helpful and is completely legal on the Internet.
In contrast, E-Mail addresses (especially those of regular people not in the public eye) cannot be published legally without a person's consent.
That is why a "postmaster" can't list E-Mail addresses on his server.
Therefore, all E-Mail search engines can only find addresses that the users themselves have submitted.
Q: During my searches I have often referred to databases. What exactly is a database?
A: A "database" is all the information that has been gathered on a specific subject. For example, a specific rock group's database will include details on the group's members and musical instruments, lyrics to the group's songs, sound files of specific songs, photographs, and so on.
Q: There are commercial distributors who supply search services for a fee. Is this service worth it?
A: It is, if you're willing to pay for the search.
These distributors create databases that are easy to search and update them regularly. They'll also "re-search" for a client at a later date to see if more information has become available. In many cases, these search services can save you a lot of time (and time is money!).
Q: What does the future hold in store? What will search technology be like in the years to come?
A: Right now, extremely-advanced search engines called "digital agents" are being developed. They are a sort of data robot that is familiar with your search techniques and can find whatever you're looking for, without you even being involved!
These programs are based on a great deal of research in the field on artificial intelligence. You can already meet some of these agents on the Net, such as Verity's agent at http://www.verity.com
