Here are the essential steps with which search engine works :-
Crawling: The first step in the process of how a search engine works is crawling. Search engines use web crawlers, also known as spiders, to visit websites and collect information about those sites. The information collected is then added to the search engine’s index.
Indexing: Once the search engine has collected information about a website, it then indexes that information. This process involves creating an index, which is a database of all the words found on all the websites that the search engine has crawled, and their location on each webpage.
Processing the Query: When a user enters a query into a search engine, the search engine’s algorithm processes the query and compares it to the indexed information. The algorithm then ranks the websites in the search engine’s index based on relevance to the query.
Retrieval: The search engine then retrieves a set of results that match the user’s query. The results are ranked by relevance, with the most relevant websites appearing at the top of the search results page.
Ranking: The ranking of search results is determined by a complex algorithm that takes many factors into account, such as the relevance of the content, the number and quality of links pointing to the website, and the user’s location and search history.
Serving results: The final step in the process of how a search engine works is serving the results to the user. The search engine returns the results that match the user’s query, and the user can then click on the links to visit the websites.
Re-crawling: Search engines continually re-crawl websites to update their indexed information and to ensure that the search results are as current and relevant as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are three main types of search engines:
Crawler-based search engines: These search engines use web crawlers, also known as spiders, to visit websites and collect information about them. The collected information is then indexed and used to generate search results. Examples of crawler-based search engines include Google, Bing, and Yahoo.
Directories: These search engines are based on human-generated listings, where websites are categorized and listed in a directory. These directories are then searched to generate search results. Examples of directories include Yahoo Directory and the Open Directory Project (DMOZ).
Hybrid search engines: These search engines use a combination of both crawling and human-generated listings to generate search results. They often include a mix of both algorithmic and human-curated results, providing the best of both worlds. Examples of hybrid search engines include DuckDuckGo and Bing.
The five basic steps for using a search engine are:
Entering a query: This involves typing a word or phrase into the search bar that describes what you are looking for.
Submitting the query: Once you have entered your query, you can then submit it by clicking on the search button or pressing the enter key.
Reviewing the results: The search engine will then generate a list of results that match your query. These results are usually presented in a list format with the most relevant results appearing at the top of the page.
Reviewing the result’s summary: The summary of the result will be displayed, it could be a title, a meta description or an excerpt of the content.
Visiting the website: If you find a result that seems relevant, you can then click on the link to visit the website and view the full information.
There are several types of searches, but four common types are:
Navigational search: A navigational search is used to find a specific website or page. Users typically already know the URL or name of the website or page they are looking for, and use a search engine to navigate directly to it.
Informational search: An informational search is used to find information on a specific topic. Users typically use keywords or phrases to find general information, such as definitions, explanations, or background information on a topic.
Transactional search: A transactional search is used to find a product or service to purchase, or to find information on how to complete a transaction such as booking a flight or making a reservation.
Local search: A local search is used to find businesses or services in a specific geographic location. Users typically use keywords or phrases along with a location, such as “pizza delivery near me” or “hair salon in (city name)”