Download How Databases and Search Engines Differ

How Databases and Search Engines Differ
Databases
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Purchased by school district.
Content is reviewed and
recommended by experts.
Information is organized.
Information is stable.
Search Engines
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Free to anyone with computer access.
No review standards with regard to
content.
Information is not organized.
Information is not stable; locations and
content continually change.
Databases
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What is a database?
A database is a collection of information in electronic format that is organized in a manner that
allows a user to easily retrieve information about its individual entries. Databases are usually
collections of journal and magazine articles, encyclopedia entries, reviews, book chapters, video
and audio clips, and newspaper articles.
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Why use a database?
Using a database allows users to search for information in an organized collection. The user
benefits from this organization because it provides more relevant results, through the use of
subject headings and descriptors. Users can also search for keywords in specific fields, such as
author and title, and limit their results using various criteria.
Databases also provide information in reliable sources, for example, printed magazines and
journals. The content of databases has undergone a review process and the information is more
authoritative than information found on the World Wide Web.
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What are some examples of databases?
Samples of databases include GROLIER ENCYCLOPEDIAS, PROQUEST,
TEACHINGBOOKS.NET, and NEWSBANK.
Search engines
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What is a search engine?
A search engine is a service that utilizes a computer program to search the World Wide Web on
the Internet and identify items that match the characters and keywords entered by a user.
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Why use a search engine?
Search engines are useful for finding very current information, information on organizations
(especially those that are local or small), groups, and personal web pages related to a topic. They
can also be used for finding articles but it can be difficult to narrow down results, find relevant
material, and assess the legitimacy of information found on the Internet. Sometimes articles
found on the Web are not free. It is especially important to be wary when using Internet sources,
as there is are no quality control mechanisms that verify the validity of information on individual
web pages.
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What are some examples of a search engine?
Examples of search engines include GOOGLE and YAHOO.
http://www.library.uiuc.edu/ugl/howdoi/compare1.html