SUNY Adirondack Library: Web Searching: Tips for Searching the Web

Google's Advanced Search

Many factors influence what you see after hitting Search in Google.

Google and other search engines use cookies, search history, and browsing history from other websites you regularly visit to influence the order of the results you get. Library databases don't do that.

Using a search engine's Advanced Search makes you searches more precise, saving you time and effort.

To compare the number of results after doing a Google Advanced Search, for instance, click "Tools."
It reduces but does not eliminate how your personal browsing habits influence your search results.

Google
Google's Advanced Search
Click link above. (If on a computer, you can also do a Google search > click Gear/Settings Icon > Advanced Search.)
google "advanced search" site:edu
Search link to videos about Advanced Search, from colleges, in the past year.

Video: Using Google's Advanced Search

How do I get to the Google Advanced Search page?
Do a Google search, then click the gear symbol and the link to Advanced Search. (Or, Google "Google Advanced Search"!)

Google vs. Library Databases

Google Alternatives

More than a thousand web search engines exist. None searches the entire web. Some do not track your searches; others plant trees!

Specialty Search Engines:

More Search Engine Options:

Privacy Options

Go Google free: We pick privacy-friendly alternatives to every Google service
From ZDNet, Oct. 8, 2020.

Images for Presentations

Google's Advanced Search limiter for usage rights is not particularly accurate, so check usage rights set by the images' original creators. Doublecheck that you have rights to use photos in these sites below.