Choosing the right Internet search tool Search engines provide various methods for accessing information on the Internet. But in order to search the Internet effectively, you must understand and choose the right search tool. In this article, we'll look at the primary Internet search vehicles available and explain the advantages and disadvantages of each type. They consist of documents that are usually reviewed before being entered into a database and that are identified by category, title, and a few keywords. Because most subject directories manually screen documents, these databases are relatively small compared to large keyword indexes like AltaVista.
Subject directories can provide distinct advantages for finding information on the Internet.
First, because subject directories are hierarchical in nature, they're great for browsing. Second, the hierarchical nature of subject directories can greatly reduce the odds of irrelevant information showing up in your search results. As the Internet has matured, subject directories have become more sophisticated and therefore even easier to search. These controls help speed searches by reducing the number of downloads needed to find a precise subject category. Infoseek's ActiveX page lets you make faster searches while reducing your number of page downloads.