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No one knows for sure but it is estimated that there are more web pages on the Internet than there are people alive in the world today. So you can imagine that finding timely, relevant and accurate information is not easy. In come the search engines.
A search engine is simply a computer system that catalogues the contents of other web sites and shows the search engine user a selection of web pages that appear to satisfy the search criteria e.g. keyword, brand name etc.
As well as search engines, there are also many directories. A directory is a web site containing list of categorised web sites. The most common directories are industry specific e.g. a list of cottages where you can stay for a holiday or Yellow Pages that is categorised by area and industry type.
There are pros and cons of both approaches and, for many people, both are used. In general,:
search engines:
- allow free web site registration,
- are free to use,
- hold a wide variety of content.
It is often difficult to compare like with like.
directories:
- tend to be highly focussed on their niche,
- hold a narrow range of content and presented with a common look and feel thereby making comparison simpler,
- tend to charge for their services.
Click on any Tex Spex heading to get more information.
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