computer skills

Searching

The most useful feature of the Internet is the way you can search 'instantly' for information on any topic using what are called 'search engines', the most widely used of these is Google.

Searching

You can search for information on the Web using a search engine.

When the Internet first started, the websites were listed in an index, but that quickly became impossible to keep up to date.

Now with millions of new webpages being added around the world each day, networks of special computers constantly index websites automatically so they can be search for.

A search engine is a special website that links to a database of sites on the Internet, this is constantly updated by a clever set of tools that search the web 24 hours a day looking for new information.

When you carry out a search, the 'search engine' can instantly display the most promising results.  The more visited a website becomes, the higher up the list of results you will find it.

The are also some 'sponsored' links paid for by businesses that appear on the top page of the search.

 

Search engines

There are many search engines, you can choose which one to use.

Google

Other Search engines

Google logo

The most well known and popular search.

Google, widely recognised as fast, accurate, objective and easy to use.

Some of the other popular search engines are:


* Hampshire County Council is not responsible for the content of external websites.

 

Try a search now!

Try it now!

To perform a search, using Google:

  1. open the main Google search page for the uk at www.google.co.uk*

  2. type your one or more words to search for, let's try finding about museums in Hampshire, simply type "Hampshire museum" in the search box

  3. then click on Google Search (or press the enter key on your keyboard

When the search is complete, a list of links to the sites that match your criteria will be displayed. The more relevant a website is, the higher it will appear in the list.

Each result will include a short description from the website to help you decide whether you want to visit it.

Even more results

Search results may include thousands of websites, so there will probably be many pages of results, click on a page number or Next to see more links.


* Hampshire County Council is not responsible for the content of external websites.

 

TipsSearch Tips

It is very easy to use a search, but sometimes the results are frustrating, there are millions of web pages that match common words.

How to search more efficiently

Here are some basic tips to improve your search results and find things quickly.

Green tick

Do

 Red cross

Don't
  • Be specific eg labrador is more specific than dog.
  • Simply use the names of the people, places or things you are trying to find.
  • Use more than one word eg to find about the planet suite by Gustav Holst, try planet music or planet suite, rather than just planet.
  • To find an exact phrase put it into quotes eg "the long and winding road".
  • Use words like and or the,  they will be ignored.
  • Write sentences or long questions.
  • Worry about capital letters, they make no difference david cameron will be the same as David Cameron.
  • Stick with the first answer, add another word eg henry viii wives will be better than henry viii.
 

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