Expert Web Search Tips

The result of a keyword search is simply a hypertext document consisting of a list of references to nodes which match the keywords. –T. Berners-Lee, R. Cailliau; WorldWideWeb: Proposal; 1990.

The goal of an Internet web search is to winnow down a handful of the most relevant results from billions of possibilities as quickly as possible. This section describes the key web search techniques that will make you an expert searcher.

• The Logic Of Boolean Algebra

• Search For Unique Identifiers

• Use AND To Combine Search Words

• Search For Phrases

• Refine A Search With Related Keywords

• Questions And Answer Searches

• Add Search Filters With OR

• Use NOT To Exclude Keywords

• Search For Wildcards

• Comparison Test Search Engines

• More Web Search Information.

A couple of useful general web searching tips:

• The innovation of tabbed browsing makes it particularly convenient to open several web pages from a search query.

• Remember you can use the search function under your browser’s “Edit / Find” menu to find your web search keywords on long pages.