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Google
Google has the largest database at 1.5 billion pages and is very adept at returning relevant results. Google uses mathematical formulas to rank a web page based on the number of "important" pages that link to it. The philosophy is that high-quality websites point to other high-quality websites. When a search is conducted, Google determines the websites that meet the search criteria and then lists the most popular sites among high-quality resources at the top of the list.
Google supports OR (in all caps), but does not support full Boolean AND NOT. However, it does allow the implied Boolean minus sign (-). When multiple keywords are entered, all keywords are treated as "AND" queries. Because Google automatically returns pages that include all keywords, the plus sign (+) and the operator AND are not necessary. Also, quotation marks for phrase searching are not required as Google returns pages with keywords in close proximity.
Google supports link searching and title, domain, and host searching through its Advanced Search page.
It provides domain searching on .gov and .mil sites with a special "Uncle Sam" database.
Using the Image Search database, News Search database, or Discussion Group Search database, visitors can search for pictures/graphics, news articles, and newsgroup postings.
Finally, unlike other search engines, Google offers a cached copy of each result.
The cached copy can be especially helpful if the site's server is down or the web page is no longer available.
Practice Searching Government Sites
Practice Searching News Articles
Practice Searching Discussion Groups
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