Below you will find a ranked list of search tools--what has also been called search engines and directories--that use a specific algorythm or formula to retrieve sites. Generally, the advantage of using a search tool over a metasearch tool is that you can take advantage of features specific to a particular search tool to enhance the precision of a search.
Google has pioneered perhaps one of the better features for determining relevancy--linking structure. In addition to using an algorithms like other search tools, Google analyzes hyperlinks or sites linking to a particular site, thus relying on the collective expertise of other sites to determine the relative worth of a site. The relatively simple no-frills interface makes searching easy. Google search stop words such as "the, of, an, for, etc." which are especially useful for searching titles of articles. Try Google Scholar to find more scholarly articles on the Web. Use the Google Help Central to discover other Web search features that sets Google apart from other search tools.
Yahoo! has made some substantial strides in improving the search functions of to an increasing larger database of Internet sites with a directory arranged by subject classification and selected by Yahoo staff. The Yahoo! directory which has been the strength of the search tool for a long time is now augmented by a larger searchable database that is no longer supplied by an outside tool such as Google or AltaVista.
Bing is a search engine developed by Microsoft that organizes results in categories offering related search suggestions. The advanced search helps to refine your search by adding additional terms.
Ask, formerly AskJeeves, has made some major changes in an attempt to compete with the likes of Google. Ask still encourages natural language searching to search its database that includes answers to the many popular questions asked online and provides search suggestions. Try typing a search beginning with, "who was. . ." Ask displays a focused list of results that suggests options for narrowing or expanding a search and direct links to specific searches. Also, make sure you check out the binoculars site preview that is activated when by pointing your mouse on the binoculars icon.
Exalead is a relatively new search tool from France that offers a simple interface and advanced features such as searching by language, domain, filetype, country, and other preferences. Search options also includes stemming, phonetic search, and proximity. The Exalead results page includes an option to display text only results, text with images of the Web page, and an image only option that allows you to browse the pages easily. A related terms feature displays results in clusters or categories. This search tool has promise and is worth venturing forth for a different experience.
Duck Duck Go is a search tool that compiles searches from other sources but maintains the privacy of a searcher by not logging user information. Results are populated by sites that have less advertising and better content.
Gigablast appeared first in July 2002 and has made significant advances since that time. Web pages, PDFs, Word documents, Powerpoint, Excel, and other files are indexed searching generic metatags from the sites. The strength of Gigablast is that the results are generally different than other search tools--although not always better.
Lycos offers both a simple and an advanced search mode which provide access to about 50 million web pages. The simple mode is designed to be a hub for information and includes a subject directory, a search engine, information sites such as headlines, news, weather, stocks, etc.
SearchTeam is a simple to use collaborative search tool that allows individuals to work together to research a topic and reviewing results.