Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Using Web Search Tools
A
search engine
is an application that builds an index of sites on the Internet. Users can then
search that database using keywords or phrases to find sites that contain the information they
need. Examples include Google, Bing, and Yahoo!.
Sometimes, you may find that a search yields too many results to be useful. Search using multiple
keywords to narrow down a search, or use
search operators
. Different search engines support dif-
ferent operators.
To gauge the accuracy of information you find on the web, consider the source of the information.
Forums, ads, sponsored links, and blogs are all unreliable sources. Knowledge bases and official com-
pany sites are generally more reliable. A
wiki
may contain accurate information or not; it is not reliable.
Key Terms
domain name
Domain Name System (DNS)
dynamic IP address
Favorite
home page
hyperlink
HyperText Markup Language (HTML)
HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
Internet
IP address
knowledge base
name resolution
plug-in
search engine
search operator
static IP address
tab
top-level domain
uniform resource locator (URL)
virtual private network (VPN)
web-based application
web browser
web server
wiki
Wikipedia
World Wide Web (WWW)
Test Yourself
Fact Check
1
What is the name of the process that changes the domain name into an IP address?
a
name conversion
b
name translation
c
name changing
d
name resolution
2
What would be the best domain extension to use for a fund-raising charity?
a
com
b
org
c
ac
d
edu
3
What do you call software that adds functionality to a browser such as Internet Explorer?
a
extension
b
plug-in
c
browse tool
d
socket
