Google Basics

At its most basic level, the function of a search engine (Google or any other) is simply to compare a string of characters provided by the user with those stored on one or more computers to determine if a match exists. This seems simple enough, but when the results can be scattered across billions of computers located anywhere in the world, you can begin to appreciate the magnitude of this seemingly simple task.

As researchers, we type in names, locations or other phrases with special meaning to us – the search engine doesn't understand that meaning at all, but is simply taking a string of characters ordered in a certain way and returning a list of those pages where the same characters are found in the same order specified. It is our job, therefore, to help the search engine to 'better understand' the meaning of what we are looking for.