A web search engine is a software tool which creates a system designed to search the world wide web for information. Some search engines search for web pages, images, general information and other types of files, whilst other search engines dig deep into a certain file or database managment system for specific information. Search engines may be divided into two distinct categories;

1). Engines that search the web for a specific web site or key words within a web site. Undoubtably the best known of these at present is either GOOGLE or YAHOO. Google is a website covering a number of different things. It is mainly used as a search engine, looking through the world wide web for sites using a specific request from the user.

There are also other sections of the Google website which allow the user to search the web with very specific restrictions, i.e. the user may request 'images', Google then displays images related to the what the user has entered as their search words/phrase and the sites related to such images. Google is an excellent site which allows almost effortless navigation of the worldwide web. One particular advantage is the site is it's ability to 'interact' with the user, to some degree. For example, if the user makes a simple spelling mistake Google will conduct the original search but then goes on to ask the user 'did you mean' and goes on to correct a simple spelling error and similar. This feature is extremely useful to the user if you are not 100% sure what you are looking for.

2). Their are other engines which search a particular site for information held within its database. An example of this is the AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL. This website has an extensive database which may be searched using many different types of data. Unlike Google this site is difficult to navigate and takes some time to become familiar with its features. Searching the database requires very definate parameters, which if unmet, returns a negative result. Therefore even though the information (when located) is of a very high quality, it can prove very difficult to find. One might also assume that this website might appeal to an older demographic, which makes it even more important that it is user friendly and easy to search and navigate, as an older user group may not have the computer literacy skills to navigate such a difficult website.