| A search engine is a program that helps users find
information on the Internet. An automated system sends out a spider
to the web and collects site links for its database. When a user types
in a keyword or combination of keywords, the spider sorts through the
database and ranks the websites in order of relevancy. A search engine
is distinguished from a directory and a portal, because its pages are
generated by an automated program rather than by human editors. Popular
search engines include Ask Jeeves, AltaVista, Lycos, and Google.
Spider. A program that automatically
fetches web pages and feeds them to search engines. (It's called a "spider"
because it crawls around the web.) Because most web pages contain links
to and from other pages, a spider can start almost anywhere. As soon
as it recognizes a link to another page, it goes off and fetches it.
Large search engines have many spiders working simultaneously. Also
known as a crawler.
Robot. A program that runs automatically
without human intervention. A robot is typically endowed with some artificial
intelligence, so it can adjust to the various situations it may encounter.
Two common types of robots are agents and spiders. Also known as a bot.
Search optimization. Tactics and techniques
that make it easier for spiders to find your page, contributing to higher
ranking on a list of search engine results. Basic optimization starts
with listing relevant keywords in your metatags and building clear and
descriptive words into page copy, title, text hyperlinks, and image
file names. It's also important to design your site on a logical link
structure and follow standard HTML conventions, avoiding the use of
frames, dynamic URLs, Image Maps, and JavaScript for navigation.
Directory. A compilation of websites
reviewed and organized by human editors into useful categories and topics,
similar to the organization of the Yellow Pages. Examples of directories
are Yahoo!, About.com, and the Open Directory Project.
Portal. A web page that works as a starting
point for a user's session on the Internet. Portals typically include
a directory of websites, access to web services and shopping sites,
and search functionality powered by a search engine provider. Example
of portals are AOL, Netscape, CompuServe, and EarthLink.
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