Most search engines allow you to contruct boolean search, just like a library catalogue. Typically you can search the Web, the Usenet, or a directory. This process is useful if you are not sure how specific you need to be. HotBot Flexible and easy to use for both simple and sophisticated searches. Although some reviews have found that Exite delivers more irrelevant and broken links than Infoseek or Hotbot, this disadvantage is due to Excite's ability to serach for related terms, as well as the specific terms you searched, resulting in a much broader hit list.
Directories contain lists of internet links organized by topic.
When you perform a search from the following pages, you are searching the index, not the entire web. The most popular directory, and probably the best. Beware you don't get lost, however. Yahoo's top level of categories are listed on the main page. Once you select a category, your subsequent searches will only include the subjects you have selected.