Search engines

on

🔍 Search Engines – Overview

  • A search engine is an online tool that helps users find information on the internet using keywords or queries.

  • It works by crawling the web, indexing pages, and ranking results based on relevance.

  • The first search engines appeared in the early 1990s.

  • Google, launched in 1998, is the most widely used search engine today.

  • Other notable search engines include Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, and Baidu (China).

  • Search engines use algorithms, artificial intelligence, and user behavior to deliver the best results.



📜 Popular Search Engines

Search EngineLaunchedDeveloperSpecial Feature
Google1998Google Inc.Most popular, fastest indexing
Bing2009MicrosoftVisual search and integration with Windows
Yahoo!1995Yahoo Inc.One of the oldest, now powered by Bing
DuckDuckGo2008DuckDuckGo Inc.Focuses on user privacy (no tracking)
Baidu2000Baidu Inc. (China)China’s leading search engine
Yandex1997Yandex LLC (Russia)Popular in Russia, supports local languages

❓ GK Questions on Search Engines

🟢 Easy Level:

  1. Q: Which is the most used search engine in the world?
    A: Google

  2. Q: What is the purpose of a search engine?
    A: To find and deliver relevant web pages based on a query

  3. Q: Which search engine is known for protecting user privacy?
    A: DuckDuckGo

  4. Q: What search engine is widely used in China?
    A: Baidu

  5. Q: Which company owns Bing?
    A: Microsoft

🟡 Moderate Level:

  1. Q: When was Google founded?
    A: 1998

  2. Q: Who were the founders of Google?
    A: Larry Page and Sergey Brin

  3. Q: What is the function of a “crawler” in a search engine?
    A: To scan and collect data from web pages for indexing

  4. Q: What does SEO stand for?
    A: Search Engine Optimization

  5. Q: What search engine is most popular in Russia?
    A: Yandex

🔴 Challenging Level:

  1. Q: What is PageRank in Google’s search algorithm?
    A: A system to rank web pages based on importance and links

  2. Q: What term describes the part of the internet that search engines don’t index?
    A: Deep Web

  3. Q: What is the difference between “organic” and “paid” search results?
    A: Organic = earned through relevance; Paid = sponsored ads

  4. Q: What type of algorithm helps predict what users are looking for before they finish typing?
    A: Autocomplete / predictive search algorithm

  5. Q: What is a SERP in search engine terminology?
    A: Search Engine Results Page