IPL Pathfinders are created by the IPL staff and are intended to help people get started doing research on a particular topic, both online and at the local library. Search Engines Unlike directories, search engines retrieve information from the entire Internet. AltaVista, Infoseek, Excite, HotBot, and Lycos are all examples of major search engines. Keywords are typed into the search engine, which then locates relevant matches on the Web. To keep records current, the search engines use programs called spiders or bots that follow links from page to page, recording all or parts of the contents of each page as they go.
Most search engines work similarly.
AltaVista is one of the largest search engines on the Web, in terms of pages indexed. Its comprehensive coverage and advanced search commands make it an excellent choice for researchers. It also offers a number of features designed to appeal to basic users. In addition, for libraries with large ethnic populations, AltaVista offers translating services that allow people to search and read results in a wide selection of foreign languages. Like Alta Vista, Hotbot is a favorite among researchers due to its large index of the Web and many power searching features.