Web Search Tools > 4: Meta-Search to Save Time

4A: About Meta-Searchers

"Meta" means "more comprehensive." A meta-searcher is a convenient tool that allows you to construct a search and then forward it to many different Web Indexes and Directories at once. They are a quick and easy way to expand your search, particularly when other tools don't find what you are looking for. Like Web Indexes, they work best for specific, multi-word searches.

- - - Characteristics of Meta-Searchers:

1. Search Multiple Sources:
   Sends your search words to many different search tools and brings back one set of results.

2. Collate Results:
   They collate (group together) search results so that when the same Web page is found by different tools, you only view it once (as shown in illustration).

3. Customizable:
   They allow you to choose which tools your search will be sent to. (You may need to select "Advanced Search" or "Preferences" in order to see this feature.)

- - - Examples of Meta-Searchers:

Clusty

MetaCrawler

Rollyo

Search.com

4B: Finding Search Tools

Throughout this tutorial, we have discussed the most popular search tools. How do you locate them and find out about others?

- - - Use Your Browser

Your browser's SEARCH function will connect to the most popular search tools. You can customize this feature, as shown in the illustration below.

Yahoo! Directory lists "Web Directories" in most subject categories and also has a "Searching the Web" category that lists thousands of resources.

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