Have you ever dreamed of traveling? Whether driving cross-country or simply across town, a good map is handy to get you to where you are going. Likewise, a good search engine is valuable when navigating the global information superhighway known as the Internet.
What is the Internet
Unlike driving a car, you do not need a license to use the Internet. All you really need is a computer with some type of Internet connection. But, once online, without some navigational tool to show you where you are going, you will probably get frustrated by unnecessary detours, quickly losing site of your destination. So, before beginning your next superhighway travels, let’s explore an overview of what the Internet really is.
In simple terms, the Internet is a global collection of various interconnected computer networks accessible to the general public. The Internet, also referred to as the Net or the Web, allows users to communicate with other computer users via email and chats. Or, users can visit web sites for the purposes of online shopping, banking, research, or just for fun. Just like traveling in certain sections of town (or across the country), some parts of the Internet, such as private, financial, government, or commercial areas may not allow just anyone to enter. These Internet sites have security features in place (such as user logins and passwords) to prevent unauthorized visitors from entering and viewing data in their particular network.
Like driving around, there are also some places on the Internet you definitely want to steer clear of. But, how can you do this online? One way is by using one of the Internet’s most important navigational tools—a search engine.
What is a Search Engine
A search engine is like a driver’s map to the Internet. It allows a user to type key words into a search field. For example, a user may be looking for freelance writing opportunities. So, in the search field, he might type, “freelance writing jobs.”
The search engine will then automatically search through large indexes or databases that contain millions of sites found on the Internet. When it finds applicable sites (as in this example, sites containing freelance writing jobs), the search engine will return a list based on these key words for the user to review.
This sounds simple enough, right? But, like with any map, you have to review it carefully to make sure it is giving you the proper directions. Every map is different, and maps will change overtime, so some information may be outdated without you even realizing it. The same is true for search engines.