WHAT ARE METASEARCH ENGINES?
Metasearch engines do not crawl the web compiling their own searchable databases. Instead, they search the databases of multiple sets of individual search engines simultaneously, from a single site and using the same interface. Metasearchers provide a quick way of finding out which engines are retrieving the best results for you in your search.
HOW DO METASEARCHERS DISPLAY THEIR RESULTS?
Metasearch engines present the results of their searches in one of two ways:
WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS OF METASEARCHERS?
PROS:
Metasearch engines can give you a fair picture of what's available across the Web and where it can be found.
Metasearches are very fast.
CONS:
More and more, metasearch engines seem to be casting smaller nets by relying on subject directories and pay-per-click engines for their Web results.
Metasearch engines don't offer search options like individual search engines do. When you initiate a keyword or phrase search on a metasearch engine, you usually have no power over how the search is configured and conducted.
WHEN DO YOU USE METASEARCH ENGINES?
Use metasearches when you are in a hurry. Metasearch engines are useful in obtaining a quick overview on a subject and/or unique term.
Use metasearchers when you are conducting a relatively simple search and also when you are not having any luck pulling up documents in your search.
EXAMPLES OF METASEARCH ENGINES:
Metasearch engines do not crawl the web compiling their own searchable databases. Instead, they search the databases of multiple sets of individual search engines simultaneously, from a single site and using the same interface. Metasearchers provide a quick way of finding out which engines are retrieving the best results for you in your search.
HOW DO METASEARCHERS DISPLAY THEIR RESULTS?
Metasearch engines present the results of their searches in one of two ways:
- Single List. Most metasearchers display multiple-engine search results in a single merged list, from which duplicate entries have been removed.
- Multiple Lists. Some metasearches do not collate multiple-engine search results but display them instead in separate lists as they are received from each engine. Duplicate entries may appear.
WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS OF METASEARCHERS?
PROS:
Metasearch engines can give you a fair picture of what's available across the Web and where it can be found.
Metasearches are very fast.
CONS:
More and more, metasearch engines seem to be casting smaller nets by relying on subject directories and pay-per-click engines for their Web results.
Metasearch engines don't offer search options like individual search engines do. When you initiate a keyword or phrase search on a metasearch engine, you usually have no power over how the search is configured and conducted.
WHEN DO YOU USE METASEARCH ENGINES?
Use metasearches when you are in a hurry. Metasearch engines are useful in obtaining a quick overview on a subject and/or unique term.
Use metasearchers when you are conducting a relatively simple search and also when you are not having any luck pulling up documents in your search.
EXAMPLES OF METASEARCH ENGINES:
Activity Time 2
Choose one of the four metasearch engines on the Symbaloo page (yellow icons). Search for "Volcanoes". Discuss with your partner what you find, compared to Search Activity 1.
Search Engines
Grouping Key: White = Kids search engines; Yellow = metadata search engines; Orange = General search engines; Red = Visual-relational search engines; Purple = Subject search engines; Pink = Australian search engines; Black = Dictionaries with a difference; Teal = Search help
