Search engines feature computer-generated databases of web pages created by web "spiders" which follow the links between pages and index them. They allow you to search their database of the web using keywords. However, the results returned are not very selective -- you must evaluate the (often quite numerous) sources retrieved for relevance. Search engines are also not comprehensive. In fact, the largest search engines index less than 25% of the web! So, if you can't find what you're looking for, be sure to use multiple search engines, or a meta-search engine, which allow you to search multiple search engines simultaneously. Remember, for any of the search engines that you use to find web sites, read the help section to learn the ins and outs of searching for that particular search engine. Every search engine is slightly different, and what works for one may not work for another.

• Google -- Try this first.
• Teoma -- An upstart competitor for Google.
• Wisenut
• AltaVista -- One of the oldest search engines, and also one of the largest. AltaVista uses very sophisticated searching commands, enabling you to pinpoint what you need.
• All The Web -- A fast search engine.
• HotBot -- A large search engine, HotBot enables you to do sophisticated searching like AltaVista without needing to know a lot of search commands. Select the "Advanced Search" option to take advantage of these search features.
• Lycos
• WebCrawler -- The search engine that started it all. If you were around in '95, this is what you used.
• Search Engines Worldwide -- This site lists more than 1,100 search engines sorted by country and region.
• Country Based Search Engines -- Country search engines and regional search engines - currently a total of 2,086 search engines and 216 countries, territories and regions.