Database VS. Search Engine Explore the difference between database* and search results Next

A Database Is... A collection of information that has already been evaluated by experts for accuracy, credibility, reliability and currency. I n other words, it is a collection of information you can trust to use in your research. You still need to decide: If you are the audience for the information and If the information helps you to answer your research question. Next

The collection in a database tends to be grouped by category such as history, science, periodicals, scholarly works, etc. The information you locate using a database is not likely to be found using a search engine because it is dynamic. This means the information is found within the database and requires a living, breathing, thinking person to enter search terms in order to search the information contained in the database's collection. Results will vary each time you search because databases are updated regularly and new information is constantly being added. In addition, your search terms affect the results.

Next A Search Engine Is... A software program that searches the Internet based on keyword(s) entered by the user and returns ranked results relating to the keyword(s). In other words, enter a word or words into the search box and get instant results. Or do you... The results from a search engine have not been evaluated for accuracy, credibility, reliability, and currency. You have no way of knowing if the information you have located is “good” information. So...you need to take time and evaluate the information before you use it.

There are different types of search engines Common search engines are the search engines that you are familiar with to like Google, Yahoo, and Bing. They search using programs that automatically “crawl” the Internet. Users can then search the information found by the “crawlers.” Meta-search engines search multiple common search engines at once. For instance, Mamma searches Google, Yahoo, Bing, and others and brings back results from all of the search engines it searches.