What is the difference between a directory, search engine and meta search engine?
Very briefly, most directories collect Internet sites and include descriptions of the sites created by people who have accessed them. Many directories list only those sites deemed to be of value. Search engines collect Internet sites through the use of computer programs. Descriptions are extracted from the site, and there is no attempt to address the quality of the site. Meta search engines search many search engines simultaneously. The Internet is so large and changes so fast that there is no single comprehensive list of Internet sites. For more detailed explanations, try COM Library’s Library Jargon Guide for directory, search engine and meta search engine.
