Understanding Search Engines

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to search engines, integrating five different perspectives: technical, user, internet-based research, economic, and societal. It covers how search tools cover the Web's content, user behavior, economic aspects, search skills, the Deep Web, and societal role. It is designed for students and professionals in computer science, online marketing, and library and information science, helping them understand how search engines work, their limitations, and their potential for further development.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 03 February 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This comprehensive book offers a thorough exploration of search engines, delving into five distinct perspectives that are typically treated separately: the technical, user, internet-based research, economic, and societal viewpoints. After providing a foundational introduction to the realm of search engines, the text proceeds to delve into two pivotal chapters that shed light on how search tools can encompass the vast expanse of the Web's content and how search engines accomplish this through the process of crawling and analyzing the discovered documents. The subsequent chapter focuses on the behavior of users when engaging with search engines, shedding light on the manner in which they formulate their search queries and interact with these platforms. This knowledge serves as a solid foundation for understanding how search results are ranked and presented.

The following three chapters delve into the economic aspects of search engines, specifically focusing on Google and the broader search engine market, search engine optimization (SEO), and the interplay between organic and sponsored search results. Subsequently, the chapter on search skills presents advanced techniques for enhancing searches through advanced search interfaces and commands. Following this, the book delves into the realm of the Deep Web, explaining how its content can be accessed and explored. The subsequent chapters address strategies for improving the quality of search results, while the final chapter explores the societal role of search engines before concluding with an outlook on the future of Web search.

This book is an invaluable resource for students and professionals alike, spanning disciplines such as computer science, online marketing, and library and information science. By presenting a diverse range of views, the book facilitates a deeper understanding of search engines' workings, their current limitations, and the exciting possibilities for their future development. By exploring these perspectives, readers will gain a comprehensive grasp of the complex world of search engines and their profound impact on our digital lives.

Weight: 474g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031227882
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023