Search Engines vs Directories

Is a Search Engine and a Directory the same?

Most people think a search engine is the same as a directory.    They are not.   In fact, they are quite different.

A directory is a compiled lists of websites, that are categorized and organized by topic.  Each website is usually listed within the directory under just a few relevant topics.    Each directory listing contains a short, descriptive information about the website.   Directories are compiled by human editors who review, approve and categorize the listings.     These website listings are usually organized into hierarchical "trees", that a directory user will browse to find the information for which they are looking.   Yahoo is the most well know directory on the web.

In most case, you will need to submit your site, to a directory, for review and inclusion. 

A search engine is a server or a collection of servers dedicated to finding and indexing information on the internet, storing the results within their database and returning links to those pages of information which match a particular query asked by a user of the search engine.     Google is the most widely used search engine on the web today.

Indexing the internet is performed by small applications, called robots or bots.   The job of the bots is to crawl the internet by following links from web page to web page and website to website.    The information on the pages and documents that they find will be indexed and stored in a database on their servers awaiting to be served by a query or search of their database.  

With a search engine, it is usually not necessary to submit your site.    Their "Search Bots" will find your site and automatically index it.    This is one of the reasons you should obtain links to your site, so you can be found by these bots.

Most Popular Search Engines    -    A Directory of Directories List

Search Engine Submission Links for Free