Search engines are handy tools that help you find what you want on the Web.

Each search engine, such as Google, uses software (called a spider or a robot) to compile a database of pages found on the publicly accessible Web. When you enter a search, the search engine scans its own database to match your terms against terms in the pages of its database.

So, each search engine searches the part of the Web it has collected--not the whole Web--and each search engine has a somewhat different database.

Permission to reproduce Google™ image pending.

Use search engines:

• to find specific terms or phrases
• to find well-known entities, such as companies or government agencies
• to find news, travel, and shopping services

More search engines can be found on the Library's Website under Find >> Websites >> Web Search Tools >> Search Engines.