Search engines are the primary way people discover websites on the internet. Understanding how they work and how to optimize your site for them is essential for online success.
Major Search Engines
- Google — The dominant search engine with over 90% market share worldwide
- Yahoo — One of the original web portals with integrated search
- MSN / Bing — Microsoft's search engine powering MSN and Bing
- EuroSeek.com — European search engine and web directory
- Lycos.com — Web portal and search engine
How Search Engines Work
Crawling
Search engines use automated programs called "spiders" or "crawlers" to discover web pages. These crawlers follow links from page to page, indexing content as they go.
Indexing
After crawling, search engines store information about web pages in a massive database called an index. When a user searches, the engine retrieves relevant results from this index.
Ranking
Search engines use complex algorithms to rank pages based on relevance and quality. Factors include content quality, keywords, links, page speed, and mobile-friendliness.
Getting Your Site Indexed
- Submit your site to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools
- Create and submit an XML sitemap
- Build links from other websites to help crawlers discover your site
- Ensure your robots.txt file allows crawling
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
SEO is the practice of optimizing your website to rank higher in search results. See our SEO Tools & Tips article for detailed guidance.