Search Engine Basics

What is a Search Engine?

Search engines are now a standard feature of almost every website and website visitors have come to expect the quick and direct assistance a search function can provide to the information and services they are seeking.

What is a Search Engine?
A Word Definition from the Webopedia

How Search Engines Work

How Search Engines Work
Article from Search Engine Watch

Why They’re Important

Providing a search function is one of the requirements for managing your agency’s website, as outlined in OMB Policies for Federal Public Websites. A search engine will help the public find the government information and services available on your website.

Research on Search Engines

Pew Internet and American Life Project often conducts research on how the public uses search engines.

Best Practices Checklist

Adopt these best search practices to help search engines find the content on your website.

Page Updated or Reviewed: March 8, 2007