There is plenty of information out on the Internet, but, undoubtedly, a lot of it is junk. Finding the information that you want can often feel like looking for a needle in a haystack, but there are strategies that can be used to increase your chances of finding the right information, more efficiently.

There are two main search structures, the web directory, and the web search engine. Think of a Web directory as a subject catalogue, for instance, Yahoo attempts to organise the Web by dividing it into topics and subtopics. If you're looking for information on the Web that fits neatly into an obvious subject or category, try out the Web directories.

Think of a Web search engine as an index that enables you to seek out specific words and phrases. With the search engine's help, you can locate individual appearances of such words in documents all over the Web. Different search engines work in different ways, so if you don't find the information you need in one search engine, try another!

• General Search Tips
• Expert Search Tips
• Find Specific Items

Thanks to Web User magazine for some of the information (Issue 9, July 2001).