Many believe that web directories and search engines are just two different terms pertaining to the same thing. In truth, these two are actually very different. Their only similarity lies in the fact that they both have the same purpose. This purpose is to help internet users search for websites whose content are of interest. Marking the difference between search engines and web directories may help those who use these terms interchangeably so that they may be able to use them according to their proper function. The differences between the two lie mainly in how their indices are built and how they should be used.

Web directories are categorized listings of different websites whose indices are classified by topic by human assessors. Entries of which are submitted by various website owners to human editors who are then responsible for placing them in the appropriate categories. On the other hand, search engines are databases of different web pages whose entries are gathered by automated systems. These automated systems are designed in such a way that they locate web pages, gather key words from each, and then store the collected information in the search engines’ database. The indices of which are not classified into specific categories because they list contents of specific web pages and not the purpose of the root website as a whole.

To fully understand the difference in functionality between web directories and search engines, one must also understand how they were designed to be utilized by internet users. Because of the categorized structure of web directories, they must be searched having specific subjects or topics in mind. Search engines, on the other hand, have search boxes wherein internet users may type key words or phrases. The search engine will then display a listing of web pages whose content include these key words or phrases. Some users prefer to use search engines for its ability to find specific information. In contrast, there are also those who prefer web directories for its organization that allows its users to view different websites with similar contents or purposes. Because both these two types of indices have different functions, those who understand the differences initially make use of search engines to look for specific matters and then use web directories to find websites with similar contents. For this reason, developers have now created more advanced listings that combine the structures of the two. These listings are called Hybrids. They are commonly used as search engines by entering key words or phrases. The results of which, however, are categorized by relevance to the topics.