Search Engines

How do search engines rank the stuff they find on the internet?
When one types in a particular word or sentence, this word or sentence is run through the search engine. Firstly the search engine will list the findings that best match the word or sentence. Next, the often search for this word or sentence on the website and search how close to the top of the page it is written as this is more likely to make it relevant. Also search engines look at how many times these words are repeated on a web page, this is known as their frequency.

Who, or what, makes one page (that you might get in your search results) more useful than another one, so that it is put at the top of your search results?
As mentioned above, it is more useful if it is close matching to what is searched and this will then make it more relelvant. If one is very broad in their search, the chances of finding what they are looking for quickly, are limited. The more precise they are in their search allows the search engine to better find what they are looking for and then this is listed at the top of the page on the search engine.

What are some of your favourite search engines? Why do you like one more than others?
At my high school, the school website had a page full of links to different search engines. When you were in year 7, you were lucky enough to be given a nice lesson on how to use search engines and it was then that I was introduced to my favourite, Google. 6 years later, it is my homepage and it is so frequently used by me. If i need to look up a word, i know i can just type "define:____" into google and google can get me a list of definitions. Google is simple to use and it is popular. Who wouldn't want to use Google? Not to mention when they change the famous "Google" sign to be in theme with the latest holiday.

I also love to use Wikipedia. Even though university seems to be dead against it, I still love it. It is kept up to date and always has further links if you want to find more information. It also has information on pretty much ANYTHING whether it be a day of the week or the latest single.