Homepages are stored on millions of computers around the world. Each homepage has an address, or a location, which is called a URL, U niversal R esource L ocator. The ability to quickly link from site to site is the most powerful aspect of the World Wide Web. Knowing where to find information quickly and systematically saves a lot of time. Search engines assist in that process.
Search engines are on-line tools.
Search engines find web resources by scanning the Internet using key words and phrases that are entered or defined as parameters. When the search is complete, a list of resources, links, related to the search appears on the screen. Each resource is a link to another site on the web that can be accessed with a click of the mouse. A search engine works much like a card catalog in a library. Since there are so many different resources available on the Internet, it is often difficult to find precise information.