Web Directories
A web directory is the most effective search tool for the beginning Web searcher. Directories are organized, first by broad subject headings, and then by sub-headings. Almost all Web directories generate their own headings. Web directories are created by teams of human indexers who specialize in specific subject areas, assigning terms and keywords to Web sites. You can often retrieve relevant information with just a few menu selections.
Search Engines
Search engines do not use human indexers. Web sites in search engines are selected by a software program that roams the Internet. Search engines that search by keyword often retrieve thousands of sites, many irrelevant to your needs. The results are not organized, selected, or evaluated.
The major advantage to using a search engine is that obscure and hard-to-find information can be located. The major disadvantage is that, most often, too much information is retrieved.
Some search engines search the full text of documents and others search only selected parts of documents (titles, headers, selected paragraphs). Each search engine has unique features that vary in importance according to your informational needs.
The MSOE Library provides you with links to search engines, net directories, and mega tools through the list of World Wide Web Search Tools.