A Search Engine is a web site that enables you to find pages throughout the web by typing in keywords. A search engine uses an automated software agent, called a "spider," which crawls from site to site, cataloging the words it finds in a huge database. When you type in a keyword, the search engine looks through its database and returns a list of pages that included your word.  

A subject directory is a catalog of sites collected and organized by humans. Subject directories are often called subject "trees" because they start with a few main categories and then branch out into subcategories, topics, and subtopics.  Because directories cover only a small fraction of the pages available on the Web, they are most effective for finding general information on popular or scholarly subjects. If you are looking for something specific, use a search engine.

A Portal is a site featuring a suite of commonly used services, serving as a starting point and frequent gateway to the Web.  Web portal services often include a search engine or directory, news, email, stock quotes, maps, forums, chat, shopping, and options for customization. These are only some of the most frequently offered services; large portals often include dozens or hundreds of bundled services.

Meta-search engines search several major engines at once. Meta-search engines do not crawl the Web or maintain a database of web pages. Instead, they act as a middle agent, passing on the query to the major engines and then returning the results.  Because search engines vary in ability to interpret complex searches, meta-search engines work best with simple searches.

These websites are great to help make quick yellow and white page lookups, email addresses and the like.  Some have reverse telephone searches.

These websites will help you locate business by using business names, addresses, phone numbers, type of business, and other criteria.

Find an expert in almost any topic of interest.  Some of the websites offer free initial consultations.

We have gathered websites with ddictionaries, encyclopedias and other valuable reference tools.

You will find the most popular mapping sites available on the Web.