All:
A meta-search engine is a generic term for a search engine that uses OTHER search engines to retrieve the requested information.
In other words, a meta-search engine is a query engine that hits up MULTIPLE search engine sites at one time.
----
Example (this is for general web searching):
To search the Internet, you can go to
www.yahoo.com, then to
www.lycos.com, then to
www.dogpile.com, then to
www.hotbot.com. But, this takes a lot of time - as you need to go to each search engine one at a time.
To hit all four search engines at one time - with one query, I use a meta-search engine. In this case, there is a freeware product called
www.webferret.com Can go to this site and download and install the softare (meta search engine).
From now on, in order to hit all four of the above mentioned Internet search engines (hotbot/lycos/yahoo/hotbot) with one query - you use the webferret program.
-----
For hitting up all of the job search engines such as hotjobs/dice/etc. There is a product (cost $$) at
www.worktree.com that will bang your job search request off of 350+ different sites. This product is another "meta search engine".
-----
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with worktree.com. I just found their site to be useful.
John Coxey
(jpcoxey@aol.com)
