Search engine
A search engine is software that helps users find information by matching queries to indexed content, most commonly on the World Wide Web.
A search engine is software that helps users find information by matching queries to indexed content, most commonly on the World Wide Web. Web search engines return ranked results, usually as hyperlinks with brief descriptions, and may also support search by images, videos, or news. Common examples include Google, Bing, Yahoo!, and DuckDuckGo.
Definition
A search engine is a computer program or software system that searches stored information and returns items that match a user's terms. In the most common usage, it refers to web search engines that search the World Wide Web.
How search engines work
Search engines generally discover content, store it in an index, and use algorithms to match queries against that index. Web search engines typically rely on crawlers, an index, and a user-facing interface.
Types of search engines
Search engines include general web search engines, vertical search engines focused on specific content types, and metasearch engines that combine results from multiple sources. Some search tools are designed for images, videos, news, or local content.
History
Search engines became prominent in the 1990s as the web expanded. Early systems such as Archie helped establish the model, and later services including Yahoo!, Google, and Bing shaped modern web search.
Key facts
- Search engines are information retrieval systems designed to locate content matching a user's query.
- Web search engines crawl or collect content, build an index, and present results through a search interface.
- Results are commonly ranked by relevance and may include snippets, images, or other media.
- Search engines can be general-purpose or specialized, such as image, video, or news search tools.
- They are widely used on the web and within databases, intranets, and other computer systems.
Search engines are central to how Canadian users access news, services, education, and business information online. Canadian organizations also use search engine optimization to improve visibility in search results.
Frequently asked questions
What is a search engine?
What is a web search engine?
How do search engines work?
What are the main parts of a search engine?
What kinds of results can search engines show?
Which are some well-known search engines?
References
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/technology/search-engineSupports: Definition of search engine and its main parts
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_engineSupports: Web search engine definition, ranked results, and support for different result types
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_engine_(computing)Supports: General information retrieval definition and core components
- EBSCO — https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/library-and-information-science/search-enginesSupports: Historical development and early search engines
- Business Development Bank of Canada — https://www.bdc.ca/en/articles-tools/entrepreneur-toolkit/templates-business-guides/glossary/search-engineSupports: Definition, indexing, ranking, and SEO relevance
- Mozilla — https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/Search_engineSupports: Software system definition and examples of major search engines