Internet Search Tools

Recommended Search Engines
If you're looking for specific information use a search engine.

1. Ask.com
http://www.ask.com
Main Feature: Has Search Tools on the righthand side. This site used to be called Ask Jeeves.

2. Gigablast
http://www.gigablast.com
Main Feature: Gigabits, which are really subtopics.

3. AlltheWeb
http://www.alltheweb.com
Main Feature: Has tabs at the top for web, news, pictures, video, and audio searches

Meta Search Engines
Meta Search Engines search more than one search engine at one time. If you're looking for a unique or obscure search term or if you want to make an in-depth analysis on a topic, use meta search engine.

1. Clusty
http://clusty.com

2. Dogpile
http://www.dogpile.com

Web Directories
A web directory lets you conduct research within a broad, general topic and then gradually narrow the topic through a list of pre-selected links. Using a directory to search the Internet is like roaming through a video store to find a movie when you have no specific movie title in mind.

1. JoeAnt
http://www.joeant.com

Virtual Libraries
These are often a good tool when you are researching a topic for a class. These sites are handpicked by humans.

1. Librarian's Index to the Internet (LII)
http://www.lii.org

2. Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org

3. The WWW Virtual Library
http://vlib.org