In the last twenty years or so, the introduction of computers has allowed users to search databases by separate words in the record, called keyword searching . This can even be done with entire texts. From the beginning of study into such searches, the problems of bypassing the standardized terminology were clear. Also, the results of keyword searches can be much larger than those of traditional searches and users can find themselves sorting through masses of irrelevant material. There is also not even the possibility that a searcher is retrieving all the information on a topic.
Many users also make incorrect assumptions about their searches.
If they are searching the standardized terminology, they are indeed searching concepts, but with keyword searching it cannot be assumed. Relevancy is one of the latest attempts to order the results of keyword searches and has become the most popular method of searching the Internet. The results of relevancy searches can be excellent, but all of us have been mystified by some items at the top of the relevancy rankings that have nothing at all to do with what we want, while other sites that are highly relevant show up much farther down the list. Traditional information specialists welcome the increased power from keyword searching, including relevancy ranking, and they have joined in the task of discovering new and better methods to improve keyword searching, but this does not eliminate the need for authorized forms and consistent analysis. It has turned out that one of the most powerful uses for keyword searching is that it can simplify the user's task of finding the standardized terms used in the metadata records.