Subject Directories
Where to begin?
Subject Directories
- simplest types of indexes - databases
- hierarchal in nature
- limited in content
- good place to begin
- manually entered by humans
Infoseek, Magellan and Yahoo are popular.
Infoseek can search for proper names and titles. Two adjacent words, each beginning with a capital letter, (e.g. General Motors) will be searched for like a phrase. To search for two or more proper names, separate each with a comma. (e.g. Michael Jordan, Bugs Bunny)
Around since early 1995, InfoSeek is well-known, well-reviewed and well-connected. Ultrasmart is the default search option. It lists both search engine results and matches in Infoseek's catalog of reviewed sites, InfoSeek Select. The new underlying search engine technology also allows enhanced searches and a host of other features that you can read about at the InfoSeek web site.
Mckinley's Magellan Internet Directory
Magellan's technology offers a unique way to search the Web: by concept. Like most search engines, it is programmed to look for documents containing the exact words you enter into the query box. But Magellan goes further and looks for ideas closely linked to the words in your query. Use the "Green Light Sites Only " option for a high-quality, targeted search of reviewed sites that, at the time of review, contained no content intended for mature audiences.
Around since late 1994, Yahoo is the oldest major web site directory. Yahoo is well-known, well-used and well-respected. Yahoo also began a directory for kids called Yahooligans in Mar. 1996. Additional regional and topical Yahooish directories continue to appear.
Because Yahoo is a directory based on user submissions, it may not have some sites in its catalog that a crawler might find from searching the web each day. If a search of Yahoo's catalog doesn't turn up any useful links, users may then wish to consult with a search engine. Yahoo makes this easy to do. With a click, the query originally sent to the Yahoo catalog is "piped" or forwarded to any of the major search engines. Because so many people use Yahoo, search engines listed first on Yahoo pages have a strategic advantage over others.
