Recommended Web Search Tools

Successful web searching involves 2 key steps:

  • First, you must have a clear understanding of how to prepare your search, so print out and complete this Search Strategies Worksheet BEFORE you start.
  • You also need to know and understand how and when to use the various Search Tools available. Choose the appropriate ones from below for your specific information needs. You might also like to visit Noodle Tools
    • which can help you choose the best search for your information needs

    Search Engines

    Search engines can only search a third of all the printed matter on the internet. This is because the pages supplied by search engines databases are gathered by computer robot programs called spiders. The robots cannot think and so can only supply you with web pages that are already on their databases or trawl through the links embedded in these documents to provide additional information.

    Searching by keyword is appropriate for these files because they are indexed using all the words or text contained in the web pages including title, the URL and embedded links within the file. They are usually sorted by how many times they have been visited rather than by relevancy There's no censorship or quality control, so results need your careful evaluation.

    The pages and links excluded from search engines are called the "invisible web". So it is important to use more than one search engine or use subject directories to enable a comprehensive search.

    We recommend the first four search engines.

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    Meta Search Engines

    These search other search engines’ databases all at the same time. Good for quick and simple keyword searches, but not very thorough.

  • Kartoo is a new metasearch engine that displays its results as a concept map. This can be helpful if you are trying to make connections between subjects or ideas. As soon as you launch a search, Kartoo analyses your request, questions the most relevant engines, selects the best sites and places them on a map.

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    Subject Directories

    Subject directories, unlike search engines, are created and maintained by specialist human editors. As the information is hand-selected and evaluated following a selection critieria the pages are more specific, relevant and of higher quality. The directories are organised by subject in a hierarchal structure and indexed accordingly.

    Keep search terms broad as you are not searching the full text of pages but searching by subject and or meta data. You may need to search a number of directories depending on their focus.
    HINT! a number of search engines have an inbuilt directories which you can access by making the word "directory" part of your search term.

    For futher information visit UC Berkeley Libary's list of additional subject directories Subject Directories

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    Specialised Databases (The Invisible Web)

    A large percentage of all internet web pages cannot be found by search engines because they are not stored on search engines databases but are generated on request from specialised databases. However you can find searchable databases and other "invisible" pages by using web directories. or by using the term "databases" as part of your search term, eg "volcano database" while using search engines such as Google and Yahoo.

    For futher information on the invisible web visit UC Berkeley Libary Invisible Web

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  • Complete Planet is a deep web directory that accesses the deep web by organising its sites by categories
  • Google Literacy Find books, articles and videos about literacy

    Australian Search Tools

    These are either based in Australia or are an Australian subsidiary of an international search tool. Use for specific Australian information which international tools might ignore. Note that giant search engines (eg Google) might still be best, even though not Aus.

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    Ask the Expert

    There are a growing number of websites which can put you in touch with 'experts' in every subject imaginable. Just remember, though, YOU are responsible for determining the "expertise" of the "expert"!

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    Kids' Search Tools

    These have been specifically designed to make searching easier for younger and/or less experienced users. Older users can also use them for a clear and succinct introduction to a topic.

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    Reference Search Tools

    For quick reference questions supplied by encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauruses and books of quotations eg. Who said this phrase? What does this word/phrase mean? Where does this saying come from?

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    Multimedia Search Tools

    You can search specifically for images on the Web: photos, cartoons, clipart etc. as well as sounds, using some of these search tools.

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