Searching the Internet

Internet Directories

Internet directories (also called indexes or portals) organize the Web by subject categories. You can think of them as Yellow Pages for the Web. Popular Internet directories include Yahoo, About, the Open Directory Project and the Librarians' Index to the Internet.

Example of a Directory Search

A search engine works well when you can express your query in specific keywords, but sometimes, especially when you have a broad topic in mind, it’s more efficient to try a search directory.

Suppose you’re taking a trip and want information about purchasing airplane tickets and other travel-related advice.

Let’s look at the Yahoo! search directory. (Here’s a test: click on the hyperlink in the previous sentence. What is the URL of that Web site?)

Look over all of the categories on the main page. There are broad topics, like Business & Economy, and then there are narrower topics within them, like Finance and Shopping.

You find Travel in the broad Recreation & Sports category.

After clicking on Travel, you’re taken to a page with many more subject areas, each more specific than just “travel.”

The numbers in parentheses refer to the number of Web sites that Yahoo has entered in that particular category.

Click on categories and visit different Web sites to find the information you need!

Remember, the Back button will always bring you to your starting point.