Search Engines & Databases
ANSWERS
What exactly is a database?
In a nutshell, a database is a collection of information that has been organized and stored so that it can be accessed later. For example, a manual version of a database would be similar to a Rolodex with specific information fields. In this scenario, information is written on sheets of paper, possibly organized into folders, and stored in a central location where people with access can go and retrieve it when needed.
An electronic database works similarly, except that the data is structured for easy organization and retrieval. A database management system allows specific users to access and manage this database (DBMS). Users with access can then add, update, search for, sort, and retrieve data as needed.
What exactly is a search engine?
If a database is analogous to a Rolodex, then search engines are analogous to a book’s index—except that it is a collection of every index for every book you own. Both databases and search engines can perform data searches and handle queries. To organize and retrieve information, each technology employs a different paradigm. Unlike databases, which can store and retrieve large amounts of structured data, search engines can search unstructured text.
The scope of search engines varies greatly. When the average person thinks of search engines, he or she will think of Google and Bing. Smaller-scale full-text search software, such as that used for online publishing, interactive catalogs, classified advertising, digital asset management, intelligence, and web searching, is also used by search engines.
Search engine software facilitates the retrieval of relevant information by allowing users to search for information using natural language text. The results will then be organized by relevance, with text documents, geographic information, images, video, audio, and other payload data included.
Why not have it both ways?
While databases and search engines do not quickly “marry,” technology allows the two to be truly married. Thanks to Texas, the core technology for all Thunderstone products, Thunderstone’s search engine software and search appliances provide users with both benefits.
Texas is the first search engine software with a fully integrated SQL relational database (RDBMS) structure that intelligently queries and manages databases. Thunderstone’s Metamorph, a concept-based natural language search engine that uses advanced lexical set logic to understand search queries and retrieve relevant responses intelligently, is responsible for this.
QUESTION
Search Engines & Databases
What search engines or databases are you using to identify the articles for your Weekly Article Summary assignment? What key words are you using for your search? Have they been effective in finding articles that are relevant to your clinical practice? Include rationale.
Submission Instructions:
- Your initial post should be at least 500 words, formatted and cited in current APA style with support from at least 2 academic sources.